The BUILD Housing Act lets the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) designate certain HUD assistance as funds for a “special project” under section 305(c) of the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994. That designation applies for purposes of environmental review, decision making, and actions under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related laws. The designation does not apply when another law already specifies the procedure for HUD’s NEPA responsibilities. The bill also amends section 305(c) to add “Indian Tribe” alongside States and units of local government as entities that can assume the Secretary’s environmental review obligations, and defines “Indian Tribe” to mean a federally recognized tribe as defined in the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996.
This bill changes which procedures HUD can use when carrying out environmental reviews for some housing assistance. HUD would be able to treat that assistance as a “special project” for NEPA purposes. The bill also makes federally recognized tribes explicitly eligible to assume certain HUD environmental review duties that States and local governments can now take on. The text does not explain the specific projects affected or how HUD will choose to use the designation.
No publicly available information about federal costs, savings, or budget effects in the bill text or metadata.
No publicly available information on supporters’ official statements, findings, or detailed reasons in the bill text or metadata. The bill was introduced by Senators Andy Kim and Mike Rounds, with additional sponsors.
No publicly available information on opponents’ official statements, concerns, or analysis in the bill text or metadata.