# 119-hr-9625: Freedom to Build Act

119-hr-9625, Freedom to Build Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15] (R-TX); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9625
- As of: 2026-09-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9625
- Congress: 119
- Title: Freedom to Build Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-09
- Sponsor: Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Housing and Community Development
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-11

## Summary

**Encourage local governments to loosen housing rules to speed construction.** This bill would create a HUD "Freedom to Build" designation that localities could win by adopting targeted regulatory reforms or by meeting affordability-adjusted housing supply targets. - Families and renters would see designated localities get priority for HUD housing programs and related competitive grants, which aims to boost local housing supply and affordability. - Local governments would qualify in one of two ways: certify adoption of at least three HUD-listed reforms across reform categories or demonstrate sustained supply growth against an affordability-adjusted target measured at the metropolitan level. - Builders and developers would face fewer barriers in designated places because reforms include by-right approvals, binding permit timelines, allowance for modern construction methods, tighter limits on some fees and mandates, and bans on growth moratoria and certain rent-control rules.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17] (R-NY), 2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- New HUD "Freedom to Build" label: benefit, medium. This bill would direct HUD to create a voluntary "Freedom to Build" designation within 18 months. HUD would publish a public list and update it at least once a year. Each designation would last 5 years and could be renewed if the place still qualifies. HUD could revoke a designation for a material…
- Two ways places qualify for label: benefit, medium. This bill would give two ways for a locality to earn the HUD label. One way would let a locality certify it adopted at least 3 HUD-specified reforms in each of three reform categories. The other way would let a locality meet an affordability-adjusted housing supply target set by HUD for metro or ho…
- Local pro-building rules and grants: mixed, medium. This bill would list local rules that can earn a locality the HUD label. The rules would speed approvals by requiring by-right approvals for conforming projects, set binding permit and inspection timelines, limit impact fees to a demonstrated nexus, allow third-party inspections, and protect approv…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
- 119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025
- 119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6955: Main Street Capital Access Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-9625 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9625)

## Related
- [119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6644)
- [119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4393)
- [119-hr-9237: Take Care of America’s Veterans Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9237)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-2725: Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2725)
- [119-hr-6955: Main Street Capital Access Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6955)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9625 (as of 2026-09-11).