The Freedom to Build Act requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development to establish a voluntary "Freedom to Build" designation for localities that adopt significant housing-related regulatory reforms or demonstrate strong housing supply growth. Localities can qualify through one of two pathways: by adopting at least three reforms from each of three categories covering construction innovation, streamlined approval processes, and property rights protections, or by meeting affordability-adjusted housing supply growth targets established by HUD. The designation lasts five years and is renewable, with HUD required to maintain and publish a public list of designated localities and update the qualifying standards every five years. HUD has 18 months from enactment to establish the program. Localities with the Freedom to Build designation will receive priority consideration for competitive housing and community development grants from HUD, and other federal agencies are encouraged to consider the designation favorably when awarding grants for infrastructure, transportation, and community development projects.
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