BUILD Housing Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4810
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The BUILD Housing Act (H.R. 4810) aims to streamline environmental reviews for certain housing assistance programs run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It does this by allowing HUD to use a specific, simplified process for checking environmental impacts under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which requires federal projects to assess potential harm to the environment, such as pollution or habitat loss. The bill also expands who can take on these review responsibilities to include Native American tribes.
Key Provisions
- Designation of Environmental Review Process (Section 2): HUD can treat certain assistance funds as part of a "special project" under an existing law (the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994). This allows for a faster environmental review and decision-making process under NEPA and related laws.
- Exception to Designation: This streamlined process does not apply if another specific environmental review method is already required by law for that assistance.
- Inclusion of Indian Tribes (Section 3): Updates the 1994 Reform Act to let federally recognized Indian Tribes, along with states and local governments, assume HUD's environmental review duties. This means tribes can handle the NEPA reviews themselves for projects on their lands.
- Definition of Indian Tribe: Defines "Indian Tribe" as a federally recognized tribe under the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new section (Section 13) to the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act, giving HUD flexibility to apply a special project designation for environmental reviews, which was not previously available for most assistance programs.
- Amends Section 305(c) of the 1994 Reform Act by replacing references to only "states or units of general local government" with inclusions of "Indian Tribes," enabling tribes to opt into review responsibilities for the first time in this context.
- These changes build on existing NEPA requirements but introduce options for delegation and simplification, potentially reducing federal oversight in eligible cases.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: HUD could process housing projects more quickly by delegating reviews, reducing its workload. States, local governments, and tribes gain more control over environmental assessments for HUD-funded initiatives, possibly leading to faster approvals.
- On Citizens: Could accelerate affordable housing development, benefiting low-income families and communities needing quicker access to homes. However, it might raise concerns if reviews are rushed, potentially overlooking local environmental risks.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic housing and environmental processes within the U.S.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- HUD and Federal Government: Primary administrator, with reduced direct involvement in reviews.
- States and Local Governments: Empowered to handle reviews, aiding local housing projects.
- Federally Recognized Indian Tribes: Newly included, allowing self-determination in environmental oversight for tribal housing.
- Housing Developers and Nonprofits: Benefit from streamlined processes, enabling faster project timelines.
- Communities and Residents: Affected by housing developments, with potential for quicker benefits but varying environmental protections.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Ensures compliance with NEPA by providing an alternative pathway rather than bypassing it, but the delegation to tribes and locals aligns with federalism principles, promoting shared responsibility. The exception clause prevents conflicts with other laws.
- Constitutional: Supports tribal sovereignty under the U.S. Constitution (e.g., treaties and federal trust responsibilities) by including tribes in decision-making, without altering core environmental protections.
- Political: May appeal to proponents of deregulation for housing affordability, while critics could argue it weakens federal environmental safeguards. As an introduced bill (referred to the House Committee on Financial Services), it reflects bipartisan interest in efficient housing policy but faces potential debate over tribal inclusion and review rigor.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16]
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Davidson, Warren [R-OH-8], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-29: Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Better Use of Intergovernmental and Local Development for Housing Act — issued 2025-07-29 — PDF (3 pages)