Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 2363
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Housing and Community Development
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-01-10T07:12:11Z
AI-Generated Summary
Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2025 (S. 2363)
Purpose
This legislation aims to encourage the development and preservation of affordable housing near transit infrastructure by incorporating incentives into the evaluation process for certain federal capital investment grants under the Federal Transit Administration.
Key Provisions
- Definition of Pro-Housing Policy: Adds a new term to Section 5309(a) of title 49, United States Code, defining "pro-housing policy" as state or local actions that remove barriers to housing construction or preservation. Examples include:
- Reducing or eliminating parking minimums.
- Establishing by-right approval processes for multi-family housing based on objective, verifiable standards.
- Reducing minimum lot sizes.
- Committing public property to affordable housing for low-income households.
- Raising height limits or increasing permitted dwelling units.
- Other policies determined by the Secretary of Transportation in consultation with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- Rating Adjustment: Amends subsection (g)(2) to allow the Secretary to increase a project's overall justification rating by one point (on a five-point scale) if the applicant provides evidence of pro-housing policies in areas within walking distance of transit facilities along the project route.
- Consultation Requirement: Directs the Secretary to consult with HUD to assess how the documented policies are expected to produce or preserve housing units, including those affordable below area median income, relative to projected demand over the project's life.
- Reporting: Updates subsection (o) to require the Secretary to include in annual reports information on projects that received the rating adjustment, including the specific policies submitted and the anticipated housing units (including affordable units) resulting from them.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new incentive mechanism into the existing capital investment grant evaluation framework in Section 5309, which previously focused on project justification without explicit housing-related adjustments.
- Creates the first statutory definition of "pro-housing policy" tied to transit grants, expanding the criteria beyond traditional transit metrics.
- Adds mandatory consultation with HUD and new transparency requirements for adjusted ratings.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Federal Transit Administration would incorporate housing policy reviews into grant evaluations; HUD would provide input on methodology and expected outcomes, potentially increasing interagency coordination.
- Citizens: Could lead to more housing options, including affordable units, near transit lines, potentially improving access to jobs and services while reducing development barriers in participating jurisdictions.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Local and state governments seeking federal transit funding.
- Transit project applicants and agencies.
- Housing developers and affordable housing providers.
- The Department of Transportation and HUD.
- Residents in areas near proposed transit projects.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Operates as an incentive-based program rather than a mandate, relying on voluntary local policy changes to qualify for higher grant ratings.
- May encourage zoning and land-use reforms at the state and local levels, which could raise questions about federal influence on traditionally local matters, though framed as a condition for federal funding eligibility.
- Requires documented evidence and measurable outcomes, adding administrative requirements for applicants and the Secretary.
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
- 2025-07-21: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 2025-07-21: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Build More Housing Near Transit Act of 2025 — issued 2025-07-21 — PDF (5 pages)