Freedom to Build Act

This bill, titled the "Freedom to Build Act," mandates the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to create a "Freedom to Build" designation for eligible localities. This designation, effective for a 5-year period and renewable, aims to incentivize communities to address housing supply challenges. HUD will maintain and publish a public list of all designated localities. Localities can qualify for this designation through two primary paths. First, they can certify the adoption of a minimum number of reforms from three categories: unleashing construction innovation , fast-tracking the approval process , and defending property rights and family freedom . These reforms target regulatory barriers, approval delays, and restrictive mandates. Second, as an alternative, localities can qualify by demonstrating sustained housing supply growth that meets an affordability-adjusted target established by HUD, which is higher for areas with high and rising housing costs. A key provision of the bill is that localities with a Freedom to Build designation will receive priority for competitive grants administered by HUD that relate to housing or community development. Furthermore, Congress expresses a sense that other federal agencies, such as the Departments of Transportation and Agriculture, should consider this designation as a positive factor when evaluating applications for infrastructure, transportation, and community development grants where housing supply is relevant.