To authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to award grants to eligible entities to select pre-reviewed designs of covered structures of mixed-income housing for use in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity, and for other purposes.

Key Points

• Congress would let the Housing Department give grants so cities, towns, and tribes can pick “pre-reviewed” home designs (like pattern books) that are already checked for local code rules.
• The goal is to speed up permits and make it easier to build small to mid-size housing (up to 25 units), including duplexes, townhomes, and backyard units.
• Grant money could pay for choosing and setting up these ready-to-use designs, but it could not be used to actually build, fix, or remodel homes.
• At least 10% of grant funding each year would have to go to rural areas, so smaller communities aren’t left out.
• Grant recipients would have to report how many permits and housing units were produced using the pre-reviewed designs, and HUD could ask for repayment if designs aren’t adopted within 5 years.