Bill > HR6327

This bill, known as the Rural Housing Regulatory Relief Act, proposes to exempt certain federal housing assistance programs from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements when providing assistance for residential housing construction or modification on infill sites. Specifically, the bill allows the Department of Agriculture to provide housing assistance under several sections of the Housing Act of 1949 without conducting a full environmental review for projects on infill sites, which are defined as locations already served by existing infrastructure like water and sewer lines, but excluding sites with only road access, high-risk flood or wildfire areas, or undeveloped greenfield sites. The bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress within five years to assess the impacts of this exemption, including changes in application review time, administrative costs, and effects on rural affordable housing. The exemption only applies to NEPA requirements and does not affect other environmental or regulatory laws. The goal appears to be streamlining the process for developing housing in rural areas by reducing bureaucratic barriers and potentially lowering the cost and time needed to complete housing projects.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/6327/all-info