To direct the Secretary of Interior to submit to Congress a report on the National Park Service's interpretation and application of the Standards for Rehabilitation for use of the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2448
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-14T18:02:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 2448) directs the Secretary of the Interior to prepare and submit a report to Congress evaluating how the National Park Service (NPS) interprets and applies the "Standards for Rehabilitation" in the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program. The program's goal is to encourage the rehabilitation of historic buildings through tax credits, and the report aims to assess its effectiveness, especially in supporting affordable housing while protecting historic sites.
Key Provisions
- Report Submission: The Secretary must submit the report no later than one year after the bill's enactment to the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Report Contents:
- Data on Application Processing: Over the past 10 years, this includes average processing times for applications (broken down by project size, type, and application parts—Part 1 for certification of significance, Part 2 for rehabilitation plans, and Part 3 for completion), as well as annual averages for hold notices (temporary pauses), conditions on approvals, denials, approvals, and withdrawals.
- Descriptions of Improvements and Opportunities:
- Suggestions to update the Standards to reduce barriers to affordable housing development without harming historic preservation.
- Guidance on converting nonresidential buildings to housing, fixing environmental/health/safety issues, adding energy-efficient and sustainable features, improving accessibility for people with disabilities, and addressing other user-reported barriers.
- Actions taken by NPS in the past 10 years to clarify Standards for affordable housing.
- Common issues raised by program users (e.g., developers), state reviewers, and stakeholders in affordable housing projects, plus how NPS collects and incorporates feedback.
- NPS's process for updating guidance documents (like briefs, bulletins, and tax guidelines), including any resource constraints affecting updates.
- Recommendations: Proposals to revise the Standards and NPS implementation to better align with affordable housing needs, protect historic properties from climate risks, and consider economic and technical feasibility.
- Definitions: Key terms are clarified, such as "Program" (the tax incentives program), "Program Application" (the certification application), "Secretary" (Secretary of the Interior), "Service" (NPS), and "Standards" (rehabilitation guidelines in federal regulations).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces no direct amendments to current laws or regulations. Instead, it mandates a one-time report, which could inform future legislative or regulatory changes to the Standards for Rehabilitation (found in federal regulations under 36 CFR Part 67) or the tax incentives program. It builds on existing frameworks under the National Historic Preservation Act without altering them immediately.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior and NPS will need to compile data and analysis, potentially requiring additional resources for review and stakeholder consultation. This could lead to streamlined processes or updated guidelines, easing application reviews.
- Citizens and Developers: Property owners, developers, and affordable housing advocates may benefit from clearer standards, faster approvals, and better integration of modern needs (e.g., accessibility, sustainability), making historic building rehabs more feasible and cost-effective via tax credits.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic historic preservation and tax policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Secretary of the Interior and National Park Service (responsible for report preparation and program administration).
- Congressional Committees: House Committee on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (recipients of the report, potentially guiding future oversight or legislation).
- State and Local Entities: State Historic Preservation Offices (involved in initial application reviews).
- Private Sector and Public: Developers, building owners, affordable housing organizations, and preservation advocates (users of the program who provide feedback and could see improved access to tax incentives).
- Broader Groups: Communities near historic sites, people with disabilities (via accessibility focus), and environmental groups (via climate and sustainability provisions).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill reinforces the role of federal tax incentives in balancing historic preservation (under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966) with public policy goals like affordable housing, without raising constitutional issues. It promotes transparency in agency interpretation of regulations, potentially reducing administrative burdens under the Administrative Procedure Act.
- Constitutional: No direct challenges; it aligns with Congress's authority over taxation (Article I, Section 8) and spending for public welfare.
- Political: Highlights tensions between cultural preservation and housing affordability/climate resilience, potentially influencing bipartisan support for updates to the program. It encourages evidence-based policy-making through data and stakeholder input, which could address criticisms of bureaucratic delays in historic rehab projects.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-27: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To direct the Secretary of Interior to submit to Congress a report on the National Park Service’s interpretation and application of the Standards for Rehabilitation for use of the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program. — issued 2025-03-27 — PDF (5 pages)