S 2391119th CongressIn Committee

BUILD Housing Act

Introduced: Jul 23, 2025

Sponsor: Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-New Jersey)

Housing & Urban Development

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The BUILD Housing Act would create a streamlined environmental review pathway for certain housing-related assistance administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Specifically, it allows HUD to designate that some of its assistance be treated as “funds for a special project” under the 1994 Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act (as referenced in NEPA and related review processes). In short, the bill aims to simplify or accelerate environmental reviews (under NEPA and related statutes) for select HUD activities, potentially shortening project timelines while still applying the law’s environmental safeguards—except where a law already specifies a different review process. The bill also broadens who can oversee these environmental reviews, adding Indian Tribes as eligible authorities to take on environmental review obligations under the same framework, and it defines “Indian Tribe” to align with federal housing and Native American law.

Key Points

1Designation mechanism: HUD may designate HUD-assisted activities as “funds for a special project” to streamline environmental reviews under NEPA for purposes of environmental review, decision making, and action, subject to the exception noted below.
2Exceptions to designation: If a statute already specifies a particular NEPA or related-review procedure for a given assistance, the designation in this bill would not apply.
3Tribal authorizations: The bill amends the 1994 MF Housing Property Disposition Reform Act to allow Indian Tribes (federally recognized tribes) to assume environmental review obligations, alongside States and units of general local government.
4Expanded definitional scope: The term “Indian Tribe” is defined to match the federally recognized tribes as identified in NAHASDA, ensuring clear eligibility for the tribal assumption provision.
5Overall effect: The act seeks to reduce potential duplication or delay in environmental reviews for HUD housing programs by enabling a streamlined, centralized designation process while expanding who may supervise and carry out those reviews, including tribal governments.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- HUD-assisted housing projects and programs, including developers and entities applying for HUD support, who may experience faster environmental review timelines for designated projects.Secondary group/area affected:- State governments, units of general local government, and Indian Tribes that may assume NEPA-related environmental review obligations under the amended framework.Additional impacts:- Potential changes in administrative workload and oversight: faster decisions on environmental aspects for designated HUD projects, with a need for coordination among HUD, state/local governments, or tribes that take on the review role.- Environmental safeguards: while the goal is streamlining, NEPA requirements and other environmental protections still apply under the designation unless otherwise specified by law.- Tribal participation and sovereignty: expands tribal roles in housing-related environmental reviews, potentially increasing tribal involvement in project approval timelines and environmental oversight.NEPA refers to the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires environmental assessments or impact statements for major federal actions.The “special project” designation comes from the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994 (section 305(c)); this bill would expand who can utilize that designation and under what circumstances.The definition change to include Indian Tribes aligns tribal governance with HUD environmental responsibilities, reflecting a shift toward broader tribal involvement.

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