Bill Summary
The "Boosting Housing Supply through Small Businesses Act of 2026" is a legislative proposal aimed at enhancing interagency collaboration between the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to support small businesses in the housing industry. The bill addresses the critical shortage of affordable housing in the United States by recognizing the vital role that housing industry small businesses—such as homebuilders, contractors, and property managers—play in increasing housing supply and affordability.
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. **Interagency Coordination**: The SBA Administrator and the HUD Secretary are tasked with collaborating to improve access to capital and resources for housing industry small businesses, particularly those in rural and underserved areas.
2. **Streamlined Support**: The legislation aims to streamline technical assistance and counseling services from both agencies to better support these small businesses.
3. **Research and Planning**: Within 180 days of enactment, the agencies must develop a plan that identifies gaps in financial and technical assistance, proposes reforms to expand loan access, and creates new tailored support programs for housing industry small businesses.
4. **Community Engagement**: The plan will involve collaboration with state and local governments, industry stakeholders, and community organizations to ensure comprehensive support.
Overall, the bill seeks to bolster the housing sector by empowering small businesses, thereby contributing to the broader goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing.
Possible Impacts
The "Boosting Housing Supply through Small Businesses Act of 2026" could affect people in several significant ways. Here are three examples:
1. **Increased Access to Affordable Housing**: By supporting housing industry small businesses, the legislation aims to address the severe shortage of affordable and quality housing in the United States. This could lead to more housing options for families and individuals, making it easier for them to find affordable places to live and potentially stabilizing communities that are struggling with housing shortages.
2. **Enhanced Economic Opportunities for Small Businesses**: The act emphasizes expanding access to capital and resources for housing industry small businesses, including those in rural and underserved areas. This could result in more small businesses being able to start, grow, and thrive in the housing sector, creating jobs and stimulating local economies. As these businesses succeed, they may also provide more opportunities for skilled workers, contractors, and tradespeople.
3. **Streamlined Support and Resources**: The legislation promotes interagency coordination, which could lead to a more efficient and effective delivery of technical assistance, resources, and counseling services for housing industry small businesses. This streamlined support may help entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of starting and running a business in the housing sector, reducing barriers and encouraging innovation, ultimately benefiting consumers with better services and products.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4241 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4241
To require interagency coordination to support housing industry
businesses, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 26, 2026
Ms. Rosen (for herself and Mr. Young) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business
and Entrepreneurship
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require interagency coordination to support housing industry
businesses, 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 ``Boosting Housing Supply through
Small Businesses Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Administration; administrator.--The term
``Administration'' and ``Administrator'' mean the Small
Business Administration and the Administrator thereof,
respectively.
(2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(A) the Committee on Small Business and
Entrepreneurship and the Committee on Banking, Housing,
and Urban Affairs of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Small Business and the
Committee on Financial Services of the House of
Representatives.
(3) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the
Department of Housing and Urban Development.
(4) Housing industry small business.--The term ``housing
industry small business'' means a small business concern in the
housing industry that contributes to housing supply and
affordability, including residential and multifamily
homebuilders, developers, general and specialty contractors,
property managers and owners, housing startups, and home
improvement and repair businesses.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development.
(6) Small business concern; small business development
center.--The terms ``small business concern'' and ``small
business development center'' have the meanings given those
terms in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the Administration and the Department share a mutual
interest in supporting housing industry small businesses;
(2) there is a severe shortage of affordable and quality
housing in the United States;
(3) the majority of American homebuilders and specialty
contractors are small business concerns; and
(4) homebuilders, contractors, and other housing industry
small businesses play a significant role in increasing housing
supply.
SEC. 4. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION TO SUPPORT HOUSING INDUSTRY
BUSINESSES.
(a) Interagency Coordination.--The Administrator shall coordinate
with the Secretary to--
(1) expand access to capital for housing industry small
businesses, including rural and underserved businesses;
(2) streamline existing technical assistance, resources,
and counseling services provided by the Administration and the
Department that benefit housing industry small businesses;
(3) increase awareness and improve access for housing
industry small businesses to Administration and Department
financial and technical assistance programs; and
(4) reduce barriers to starting and growing a housing
industry small business.
(b) Interagency Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall work in
coordination with the Secretary to develop and submit to the
appropriate congressional committees, and make publicly
available on a website of the Administration, an interagency
plan that includes--
(A) an examination of current gaps in financial and
technical assistance for housing industry small
businesses at the Administration and the Department;
(B) reforms to expand access to Administration
loans to housing industry small businesses, including
the loan programs under subsections (a) and (m) of
section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636) and
section 502 of the Small Business Investment Act of
1958 (15 U.S.C. 696), or creating new loan products for
housing industry small businesses;
(C) new programming or resources to be offered by
the Administration or the Department that are
specifically tailored to the needs of housing industry
small businesses, including opportunities to host joint
trainings or workshops;
(D) processes for information sharing and
discussion of best practices between the Administration
and the Department;
(E) opportunities for coordinated support between
resource partners, including small business development
centers, women's business centers described in section
29 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 656), Veteran
Outreach Business Centers described in section 32 of
such Act (15 U.S.C. 657b), and chapters of the Service
Corps of Retired Executives described in section
8(b)(1)(B) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 637(b)(1)(B)); and
(F) opportunities to support startups developing
innovative products related to the housing industry,
including by reducing barriers to access the Small
Business Innovation Research and Small Business
Technology Transfer programs under section 9 of the
Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) or creating new
innovation initiatives.
(2) Community engagement.--The Administrator and the
Secretary shall work in partnership with State and local
governments, housing industry small businesses, resource
partners described in paragraph (1)(F), and community and
nonprofit organizations to develop the interagency plan
required under paragraph (1).
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