# 119-s-4265: Freedom to Build Act

119-s-4265, Freedom to Build Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN] (R-TN); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-07-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4265
- As of: 2026-07-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-4265
- Congress: 119
- Title: Freedom to Build Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-03-26
- Sponsor: Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN] (R-TN)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Housing and Community Development
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-18

## 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. - 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.

## Provisions PRIA read

- HUD grant priority for designated communities: benefit, medium. 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…
- Earn the Freedom to Build label: mixed, medium. 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…

## Related bills

- 119-s-3290: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-5252: BLADE Act
- 119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025
- 119-s-394: GENIUS Act of 2025

## Sources
- [119-s-4265 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/4265)

## Related
- [119-s-3290: Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3290)
- [119-s-4952: Protecting American Taxpayers Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4952)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-5252: BLADE Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5252)
- [119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-292)
- [119-s-394: GENIUS Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-394)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4265 (as of 2026-07-18).