Overview
Title
To amend the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to authorize the sale of certain Federal land to States and units of local government to address housing shortages, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 7363 is a plan to help fix housing shortages by letting states and towns buy certain pieces of land from the government to build homes, parks, and community places, while also keeping some of the money to care for parks and nature.
Summary AI
H.R. 7363 aims to address housing shortages by allowing the sale of certain federal lands to states and local governments for housing development. The bill amends the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, setting out rules for how lands can be nominated, the types of projects allowed, and requirements for their sale and use. At least 85% of the land must be used for housing, open spaces, or community amenities, and projects must maintain a minimum housing density. Proceeds from land sales are designated for national parks, wildfire prevention, public water infrastructure, and habitat restoration.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
The proposed bill, titled the "Helping Open Underutilized Space to Ensure Shelter Act of 2024" or the "HOUSES Act of 2024," aims to address housing shortages in the United States by amending the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976. The bill seeks to allow the sale of certain federal lands to state and local governments explicitly for residential development purposes. This amendment outlines a process through which government entities may nominate public lands for potential sale, subject to certain eligibility criteria and limitations.
General Summary of the Bill
At its core, the bill is designed to facilitate the development of new housing on underutilized federal lands. It sets forth specific definitions, including what constitutes residential development, community amenities, and industrial areas, among others. States or local governments can nominate public lands for housing projects, ensuring that a significant portion of such land is earmarked for residential use, with some room for community amenities and limited commercial development. The bill also details the logistical process regarding how land conveyance should be prioritized, approved, priced, and whose proceeds would be allocated for various governmental objectives.
Summary of Significant Issues
The bill includes several complex provisions that may lead to challenges in its implementation:
Complex Sale Pricing Formula: The method proposed for calculating the sales price of the land is intricate, potentially leading to confusion or disputes over fair valuation.
Funding Prohibition and Compliance: The bill prohibits funding from specific programs for non-compliance, without clearly delineating how compliance will be assessed or restored, which might financially strain state or local governments.
Prioritizing Housing Over Other Uses: The bill distinctly prioritizes the need for housing over other potential land uses. This could inhibit other critical uses such as environmental conservation or recreational purposes.
Environmental Oversight Omission: There is no specific mention of environmental impact assessments within the proposal, which may pose risks of unaddressed environmental consequences from increased development.
Mandatory Gubernatorial Approval: The requirement for state governor approval before land conveyance is finalized could draw out the process, introducing potential delays.
Complex Language and Structure: The overall complexity and detailed requirements throughout the bill might deter participation, complicating the involvement of state or local governments.
Proceeds Subject to Appropriations: The uncertainty around how the proceeds from sales are allocated could impact funding for critical initiatives like habitat restoration and infrastructure development.
Potential Impact on the Public and Stakeholders
Broad Public Impact
If successfully implemented, the bill could provide much-needed housing in areas experiencing critical shortages, potentially easing housing affordability issues. However, it might also lead to conflicts over land use priorities and the environmental impact of new developments. The emphasis on residential development could spur economic growth, increasing job opportunities within the construction and real estate sectors.
Impact on Stakeholders
State and Local Governments: These entities might benefit from new opportunities to address housing shortages locally but could face bureaucratic challenges and potential funding penalties for non-compliance.
Environmental Advocates: Concerns are likely to be raised about the lack of required environmental impact assessments the bill does not address, potentially placing local ecosystems at risk.
Residents and Communities: The bill aims to empower communities to meet housing demands, but potential downsides include disruptions related to increased population density and changes to public land availability.
Developers: This group could see increased opportunities for residential projects, though the complexity of the proposal might pose barriers to timely project initiation.
In summary, the HOUSES Act of 2024 presents a legislative effort to mitigate housing shortages using federal lands while simultaneously introducing certain procedural and compliance challenges that need careful consideration to balance the interests of housing, environmental integrity, and administrative efficiency.
Issues
The sale price calculation method in Section 2, subsection (4) is overly complex, which might lead to misunderstandings and disputes regarding the fair valuation of the federal lands being conveyed. Simplification of the formula could make the process more transparent and equitable.
In Section 2, subsection (6)(B), the prohibition on funding from certain programs without a clear process for determining or rectifying non-compliance could lead to significant financial repercussions for states and local governments. This ambiguity may affect their ability to access and utilize crucial federal funds.
The prioritization of addressing housing shortages over other potential uses in Section 2, subsection (3)(A) may be too rigid, potentially overlooking other critical uses of the land, such as environmental conservation or public recreation. This could lead to legal and local opposition.
There's no explicit language regarding environmental assessments or considerations in Section 2 for the sales and development of public lands, which poses a potential oversight. The environmental impacts of converting public lands for housing development need thorough evaluation to prevent adverse effects on ecosystems.
The requirement for gubernatorial approval in Section 2, subsection (5), while ensuring state-level oversight, could create delays and add bureaucratic hurdles. This could slow down the process of making federal lands available for housing developments.
Section 2's complex language throughout, including detailed definitions and procedural requirements, could be simplified to enhance understanding among stakeholders. The complexity might deter participation or compliance from states or local governments.
The disposition of proceeds in Section 2, subsection (7)(A)(ii), being subject to appropriations, introduces unpredictability in funding allocations for projects such as hazardous fuels reduction and habitat restoration. This could result in funding uncertainties for important environmental and infrastructure initiatives.
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
The first section of the bill simply provides its official short title, which is the “Helping Open Underutilized Space to Ensure Shelter Act of 2024” or the “HOUSES Act of 2024.”
2. Sales of Federal land to address housing shortages Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill proposes amending the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 to allow the sale of certain public lands to state or local governments to help address housing shortages. It defines various related terms, outlines nomination and proposal processes by states or local governments, sets criteria for eligible housing projects, and details how the sale price would be determined and how the proceeds should be used.