Overview
Title
To direct the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, to publish guidelines and best practices for State zoning and local zoning frameworks, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The Housing Supply Frameworks Act wants to help people find homes by making rules easier and removing some old obstacles, like needing lots of parking spots, so more affordable houses can be built. It gives $3 million each year to make new rules and guidelines for local areas to follow.
Summary AI
H. R. 2840, titled the "Housing Supply Frameworks Act," directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to publish guidelines and best practices for state and local zoning frameworks to better address housing shortages in the U.S. The bill finds that regulatory barriers contribute to the housing supply crisis and aims to streamline processes to increase housing opportunities, particularly for affordable housing. It proposes reducing zoning constraints like parking minimums and minimum lot sizes and encourages affordable housing development on government-owned land. The bill also abolishes the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse, replacing it with updated guidelines for zoning reforms and allocating $3 million annually from 2026 to 2030 for implementation.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The "Housing Supply Frameworks Act" is a legislative proposal aimed at addressing the significant housing shortage in the United States. This Act mandates the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research, to publish guidelines and best practices to help states and local communities update their zoning laws. The goal is to enhance housing affordability and availability for individuals at all income levels, by addressing existing zoning and regulatory barriers. The bill also outlines a structured process for consultation and public comment, details the composition of a task force to assist in drafting the guidelines, and abolishes the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse set up under a previous act.
Summary of Significant Issues
The bill presents several notable issues:
Extended Timelines: The Act provides a timeline of three years for establishing guidelines and two years for consultation and public comment. These long durations may further delay reforms and housing opportunities, which are urgently needed given the current housing crisis.
Lack of Enforcement Mechanisms: The guidelines and best practices lack specificity in terms of how they will be enforced upon states and localities. Without clear enforcement measures, the effectiveness of these recommendations remains uncertain.
Reporting Ambiguities: There is a lack of clear criteria in determining how states and localities will be evaluated on their adoption of recommendations. Furthermore, the five-year timeline for reporting on these guidelines without interim checks may delay accountability and assessment of progress.
Abolishing the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse: Eliminating this clearinghouse without providing an alternative solution raises concerns about the future ability to address regulatory challenges in housing development.
Federal and State Role Clarity: The bill's articulation of the federal government's role in supporting state and local reforms is vague, which might lead to political and legal challenges.
Environmental Considerations: The task force composition does not include environmental or sustainability experts, potentially neglecting critical environmental factors in housing reforms.
Impact on Broad Public
The proposed Act could significantly influence the availability and affordability of housing in the United States. By alleviating regulatory and zoning obstacles, the bill aims to increase housing supply, which could help lower housing costs in the long term. More accessible and affordable housing can benefit individuals and families across various income levels, potentially reducing the number of cost-burdened households. However, the extended timelines and lack of enforcement may dilute these benefits if the reforms are delayed or inadequately implemented.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Positive Impacts
Housing Developers: The reduction of regulatory barriers could streamline development processes, potentially lowering construction costs and speeding up project approvals.
Local Governments: The guidelines may assist municipalities in modernizing their zoning regulations, leading to more efficient use of land and resources.
Low-Income Households: Increased housing supply could provide more options, potentially lowering rent prices and helping low-income families access affordable housing.
Negative Impacts
Environmental Advocates: Without dedicated environmental experts on the task force, there is a risk that the guidelines might overlook critical environmental sustainability issues in housing development.
Local Communities: Rapid changes in zoning and increased development might disrupt existing community dynamics and lead to potential resistance from local residents.
Federal Accountability: Ambiguities in the federal role and enforcement mechanisms might lead to challenges in ensuring states and local governments comply with the guidelines, possibly affecting the overall success of the intended housing reforms.
In conclusion, while the "Housing Supply Frameworks Act" presents a structured plan for addressing the housing shortage through reforming zoning practices, its impact will depend heavily on the specificity of its enforcement mechanisms, the timeliness of its implementation, and the ability to balance regulatory reform with considerations for environmental and community dynamics.
Financial Assessment
The bill, known as the "Housing Supply Frameworks Act," includes a section on financial appropriations. Specifically, it authorizes the allocation of $3,000,000 annually to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for the fiscal years 2026 through 2030. This funding is intended to support the implementation of the Act, including the development and publication of guidelines and best practices for state and local zoning frameworks.
Financial Appropriations and Implementation
The proposed financial allocation is crucial for ensuring that the guidelines and best practices outlined in the bill can be effectively developed and disseminated. By allocating a specific amount of $3 million per year over a five-year period, the bill provides a clear financial framework for the federal government's involvement in addressing housing shortages through zoning reforms.
Relation to Identified Issues
One of the primary issues identified in the bill is the lack of specificity in how these appropriated funds will be used (Issue 7). While the bill details the financial commitment, it does not provide a breakdown or detailed plan for how the $15 million total allocation will be distributed across various activities over the five-year period. This lack of detail raises concerns about financial transparency and accountability. Without a clear plan, it becomes challenging to measure the effectiveness of the funding in achieving the bill’s objectives.
Furthermore, the appropriations section does not address how these funds will ensure adherence to the published guidelines and best practices by state and local governments (Issue 2). Without clear enforcement mechanisms tied to the financial allocations, it is uncertain whether state and local entities will be incentivized or required to follow the federal guidelines.
Additionally, the appropriations section’s impact on eligibility for federal discretionary grants is mentioned without providing specific criteria or metrics. This creates uncertainty for grant applicants who may seek to align with the guidelines in order to enhance their eligibility for federal funds (Issue 5).
In summary, while the bill clearly authorizes significant funding to support its objectives, the lack of detailed planning and transparency regarding the use and distribution of these funds poses challenges in ensuring accountability and effectiveness in achieving the desired zoning reforms and housing solutions.
Issues
The timeline for establishing guidelines and best practices is set at 3 years after the enactment of the bill, while the consultation and public comment period is set at 2 years. These extended timeframes in Section 4 could delay necessary reforms and housing opportunities, making them a critical issue given the urgency of the national housing shortage.
The guidelines and best practices outlined in Section 4 lack specificity in terms of enforcement mechanisms to ensure adoption and adherence by State and local governments. Without clear enforcement, it is uncertain how effective these recommendations will be.
Section 5 lacks specificity regarding the criteria or metrics to determine if a State or locality has successfully adopted the recommendations from the guidelines and best practices. This ambiguity could lead to ineffective reporting and lack of accountability.
Abolishing the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse in Section 6 raises concerns as it removes a resource intended to help navigate regulatory obstacles without providing a rationale or replacement mechanism. This could hinder future efforts to address regulatory barriers.
The potential effects on eligibility for Federal discretionary grants are mentioned in Section 4, but without clear criteria or metrics, it could create uncertainty for grant applicants trying to align with the guidelines.
The call for a task force composition in Section 4 does not include environmental or sustainability experts, potentially resulting in guidelines that do not adequately consider environmental impacts.
The issues in Section 2 highlight concerns around Federal and State responsibilities, as there is unclear articulation of the Federal Government's role in supporting state and local reforms, which could raise political and legal debates.
The authorization of appropriations in Section 7, totaling $3,000,000 per fiscal year from 2026 through 2030, lacks specificity on how the funds will be used, creating potential concerns over financial transparency and accountability.
Section 5 sets the timeline for the final report at 5 years after publication of the guidelines, which may be considered lengthy. Without interim reporting requirements, it is difficult to track progress or effectiveness over time.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In Section 1, this Act is given the official name "Housing Supply Frameworks Act."
2. Findings Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Congress has found that there is a significant shortage of housing in the United States, affecting various communities. Several factors contribute to this issue, such as high construction costs, labor shortages, supply chain problems, and restrictive local regulations, and while some local governments are exploring reforms, federal support could assist in addressing these challenges effectively.
3. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section defines key terms related to housing and zoning. It explains what is meant by "affordable housing," identifies who the "Assistant Secretary" is, and describes local and state zoning frameworks. It also defines the "Secretary" as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
4. Guidelines on State and local zoning frameworks Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section mandates that, within three years, guidelines and best practices be published to help states and local communities update their zoning laws to provide more housing for people of all income levels. The guidelines will cover various topics such as reducing barriers to affordable housing, simplifying zoning codes, encouraging development near public transit, and streamlining approval processes while considering public input and the unique needs of different communities.
5. Reporting Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section outlines that within five years of publishing zoning guidelines, the Assistant Secretary must report to Congress on the adoption and modifications made by States and localities to their zoning frameworks, including summaries and lists of those that have incorporated the recommended practices.
6. Abolishment of regulatory barriers clearinghouse Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section states that the Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse, which was created by the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992, is being eliminated. Additionally, the specific part of the law that established this clearinghouse is also being repealed.
7. Authorization of Appropriations Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section authorizes the allocation of $3 million each year from 2026 through 2030 to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to implement the Act.
Money References
- There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out this Act $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.