Bill Summary
The **Housing Supply and Affordability Act** is a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing housing supply and affordability across the United States. It authorizes the establishment of a grant program that will provide funding to eligible entities, including states, metropolitan cities, and regional planning agencies, to develop and implement comprehensive housing plans.
Key provisions of the Act include:
- **Definition of Terms**: The legislation defines key terms such as "eligible entity," which refers to various government bodies capable of applying for grants, and "housing plan," which outlines strategies for increasing housing availability, affordability, accessibility, quality, and coordination with transportation.
- **Grant Program**: The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development is tasked with establishing a competitive grant program to assist eligible entities with planning and implementation activities related to affordable housing. Importantly, the funds cannot be used for construction or repair work.
- **Use of Funds**: The Act details how different types of eligible entities can utilize the grants, focusing on planning activities, improving housing strategies, updating zoning codes, and enhancing community development efforts. A maximum of 10% of grant funds may be allocated for administrative costs.
- **Coordination**: The Secretary is encouraged to coordinate with the Federal Transit Administration to align housing and transportation planning efforts.
- **Timeframe**: The program is set to operate for five years, after which it will terminate unless renewed or extended.
Overall, the Act seeks to address housing challenges by enabling local and regional governments to create more effective and accessible housing solutions.
Possible Impacts
Here are three examples of how the "Housing Supply and Affordability Act" could affect people:
1. **Increased Access to Affordable Housing**: By providing grants to eligible entities (such as states and urban counties) for the development of housing plans, the legislation aims to increase the availability of affordable housing. This could significantly benefit low- and moderate-income families who struggle to find housing within their budget, thereby improving their quality of life and reducing financial strain.
2. **Improved Housing Accessibility for People with Disabilities**: The act emphasizes increasing the accessibility of housing for people with disabilities. This could lead to the development of more inclusive housing options, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have better access to homes that meet their needs. This change could enhance their independence and participation in the community.
3. **Enhanced Coordination with Transportation**: The requirement to coordinate housing plans with transportation-related agencies could lead to the development of housing in areas with better public transportation access. This means individuals and families may find it easier to commute to work or access essential services, thereby improving their overall mobility and economic opportunities.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4020 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4020
To authorize a grant program for the development and implementation of
housing supply and affordability plans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 5, 2026
Ms. Klobuchar (for herself, Ms. Blunt Rochester, and Mr. Kaine)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize a grant program for the development and implementation of
housing supply and affordability plans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Housing Supply and Affordability
Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION ASSOCIATED WITH
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State, insular area, metropolitan city, or
urban county, as those terms are defined in section 102
of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974
(42 U.S.C. 5302); or
(B) a regional planning agency or consortia of
regional planning agencies.
(2) Housing plan.--The term ``housing plan'' means a plan
to, with respect to an area within the jurisdiction of an
eligible entity--
(A) increase the amount of available housing to
meet the demand for such housing and any projected
increase in the demand for such housing;
(B) increase the affordability of housing;
(C) increase the accessibility of housing for
people with disabilities, including location-efficient
housing;
(D) preserve or improve the quality of housing;
(E) reduce barriers to housing development; and
(F) coordinate with transportation-related
agencies.
(3) Housing strategy.--The term ``housing strategy'' means
a housing strategy required under section 105 of the Cranston-
Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12705).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development.
(b) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a program to award
grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities to assist planning
and implementation activities associated with affordable housing,
except that such grant awards may not be used for construction,
alteration, or repair work.
(c) Use of Amounts.--
(1) By regional planning agencies.--If an eligible entity
that receives amounts under this section is an eligible entity
described in subsection (a)(1)(B), the eligible entity shall
use those amounts to assist planning activities with respect to
affordable housing, including--
(A) the development of housing plans;
(B) the substantial improvement of State or local
housing strategies;
(C) the development of new regulatory requirements
and processes;
(D) updating zoning codes;
(E) increasing the capacity to conduct housing
inspections;
(F) increasing the capacity to reduce barriers to
housing supply elasticity and housing affordability;
(G) the development of local or regional plans for
community development; and
(H) the substantial improvement of community
development strategies, including strategies designed
to--
(i) increase the availability of affordable
housing and access to affordable housing;
(ii) increase access to public
transportation; and
(iii) advance sustainable or location-
efficient community development goals.
(2) By states, insular areas, metropolitan cities, and
urban counties.--If an eligible entity that receives amounts
under this section is an eligible entity described in
subsection (a)(1)(A), the eligible entity shall use those
amounts to--
(A) implement and administer housing strategies and
housing plans;
(B) implement and administer any plans to increase
housing choice, address disparities in housing needs,
and provide greater access to opportunity;
(C) fund any community investments that support
goals identified in a housing strategy or housing plan;
(D) implement and administer regulatory
requirements and processes with respect to reformed
zoning codes;
(E) increase the capacity to conduct housing
inspections;
(F) increase the capacity to reduce barriers to
housing supply elasticity and housing affordability;
(G) implement and administer local or regional
plans for community development; and
(H) fund any planning to increase--
(i) the availability of affordable housing
and access to affordable housing;
(ii) access to public transportation; and
(iii) any location-efficient community
development goals.
(3) Use for administrative costs.--A eligible entity that
receives amounts under this section may not use more than 10
percent of those amounts for administrative costs.
(d) Coordination.--To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall
coordinate with the Administrator of the Federal Transit Administration
in carrying out this section.
(e) Expiration of Authority.--After the expiration of the 5-year
period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
may not newly establish a program as described in this section.
(f) Sunset.--The program established under this section shall
terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of
this Act.
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