FAST Housing Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8171
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-14T13:44:58Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The FAST Housing Act (H.R. 8171) aims to address housing shortages in areas experiencing rapid workforce growth due to federal investments, such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and CHIPS and Science Act. It establishes a demonstration program to encourage local governments and public housing agencies to reform zoning rules and build more workforce housing (affordable to middle-income workers) and affordable housing (for lower-income households) through grants.
Key Provisions
- Program Setup: The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) must create the program within 1 year of enactment and award up to 15 competitive grants to eligible local governments or public housing agencies (PHAs).
- Eligibility Requirements:
- Demonstrate workforce expansion from IIJA or CHIPS Act.
- Prove housing shortage (e.g., low vacancy rates, rising prices, high housing costs).
- Application Details:
- List current local laws/policies that support workforce housing.
- Propose zoning reforms (e.g., upzoning for higher density, expedited permits, removing parking minimums, allowing modular homes) with adoption timelines.
- Grant Priorities and Selection:
- Prioritize entities with proven success in reducing regulatory barriers.
- Aim for geographic diversity (urban, suburban, rural) for evaluation.
- Allowed Uses of Funds (via public-private partnerships):
- Convert commercial spaces to housing.
- Develop, rehabilitate, or improve housing.
- Provide technical assistance to developers.
- Acquire properties in high-opportunity (mixed-income) neighborhoods.
- At least 30% of units must be affordable housing.
- Duration: Assisted units must remain workforce or affordable housing for at least 5 years.
- HUD Support: Technical assistance for combining grants with other federal housing programs; annual studies on program effectiveness (e.g., faster approvals, more units built).
- Funding Source: Treasury transfers 10% of unobligated "COVID funds" (from six major COVID-19 relief laws) to HUD within 30 days of enactment; funds available until spent.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new HUD demonstration program focused on incentivizing local zoning reforms to boost housing supply.
- Repurposes unobligated COVID-19 relief funds for housing development, marking a novel use of leftover pandemic aid.
- Defines workforce housing (up to 30% of 120% area median income or 110% median home price) and affordable housing (up to 30% of 80% area median income), with HUD flexibility for adjustments.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: HUD gains new responsibilities for grants, studies, and technical assistance; Treasury must identify and transfer funds quickly.
- Citizens: Increased housing supply in growing workforce areas could lower costs and improve access for middle- and lower-income households.
- Local Communities: Faster development in high-growth areas; potential for more mixed-income neighborhoods.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Local governments and PHAs: Primary grant recipients; must enact reforms.
- Housing developers: Benefit from partnerships, technical aid, and streamlined rules.
- Residents and workers: In workforce-expansion areas (e.g., near infrastructure or chip manufacturing projects).
- HUD and Treasury: Implement and fund the program.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on Congress's spending power; HUD can set additional workforce housing rules post-5-year period. Annual studies ensure accountability.
- Constitutional: Standard federal grant program; no apparent challenges (e.g., no commandeering of states, as incentives voluntary).
- Political: Encourages deregulation of local zoning (e.g., reducing barriers like parking mandates), which could spark debate on property rights vs. housing needs. Bipartisan sponsorship highlights cross-party interest in supply-side housing solutions. Demonstration nature limits scope but allows testing before broader policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-02: Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-02: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-02: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Facilitating Accelerated Supply of Targeted Housing Act — issued 2026-04-02 — PDF (9 pages)