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119-s-4265119th CongressWALLET

Freedom to Build Act

Sponsored By: Senator Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]

Introduced

Summary

Freedom to Build designation: This bill would create a federal label that rewards localities that cut housing regulatory barriers or meet affordability-adjusted housing supply targets.

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  • Local governments would qualify by adopting reforms across three categories or by hitting a HUD-set supply growth target. A qualifying locality must adopt at least 3 reforms from each category and the designation lasts 5 years with HUD publishing a public list of designees.
  • Builders and developers would face faster, clearer approval paths and broader use of modern construction methods. The bill points to by-right approvals, binding permit timelines with remedies, allowance of qualified third-party inspectors, limits on impact fees, protections from retroactive code changes, and restrictions on local mandates like rent control or uncompensated set-asides.
  • Federal grant applicants in designated places gain priority for HUD competitive grants for housing and community development. The bill also urges DOT, EPA, and USDA to consider designation as a positive factor when housing supply or community development is relevant to their programs.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

HUD grant priority for designated communities

This bill would require HUD to prioritize applicants located in or primarily serving communities with a current Freedom to Build designation for competitive HUD grants tied to housing, community development, or housing construction, modification, rehabilitation, or preservation. The priority would apply only to HUD competitive grant programs in those subject areas. This would help developers and local public agencies in labeled communities compete for more HUD funding.

Earn the Freedom to Build label

This bill would create a voluntary "Freedom to Build" label that HUD must set up within 18 months. HUD would publish a public list and update it at least once a year. A label would last 5 years and be renewable. Communities would qualify by either certifying HUD‑listed reforms (HUD would require at least 3 reforms in each of three categories) or by meeting an affordability‑adjusted housing supply growth target HUD sets by rule. HUD would list example reforms that speed permits, allow modern off‑site construction and third‑party inspections, limit some local fees, and prohibit moratoria or caps. The bill would also restrict some local mandates such as rent control on certain new units and would let HUD revoke a label if reforms are reversed or supply targets are missed, after giving at least 180 days to fix the problem.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]

TN • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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