Rural Housing Regulatory Relief Act

This bill would exempt certain federal rural housing assistance from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The exemption covers loans and grants under several sections of the Housing Act of 1949 that pay to build or modify homes on infill sites. An infill site is land already served by existing infrastructure such as water lines, sewer lines, and roads; it does not include undeveloped land, sites served only by a road, or census tracts rated very high or relatively high risk for wildfire, coastal flooding, and riverine flooding. Within 5 years, the Secretary of Agriculture would report to Congress on whether the change reduced review time and administrative costs, how it affected rural affordable housing, and any recommendations. Requirements under laws other than NEPA would not be affected.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Eugene Simon Vindman Democrat sponsor
• 4 cosponsors