North Indy News

Today, U.S. Senators Todd Young and Brian Schatz introduced the Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act. This legislation aims to encourage local communities to reduce regulations, expand housing options, and enhance transparency in community development.

The act addresses the issue of excessive regulations that negatively impact low- and middle-income Americans seeking housing. The proposed legislation seeks to ensure localities contribute to increasing affordable housing supply.

Senator Young stated, "Burdensome local zoning and land use policies can drive up housing costs in our communities and stifle the ability of Americans to move to areas of opportunity." He emphasized the bill's goal of encouraging transparency from various regions to improve housing affordability nationwide.

Senator Schatz added, "In order to reverse anti-housing policies, we need to know where they are in place and how they hurt communities." The bill will provide more transparency on policies hindering necessary housing developments.

The legislation mandates recipients of federal Community Development Block Grants report on their adoption of less restrictive land use policies or submit plans for implementing such policies. It encourages measures like high-density zoning, allowing manufactured homes in single-family zones, reducing minimum lot sizes, and permitting single-room occupancy development where multifamily housing is allowed.

The bill respects state and local rights regarding zoning but ties federal funding to transparency about not removing or reforming harmful regulations.

Senators Kevin Cramer, Tina Smith, Cynthia Lummis, and Raphael Warnock co-sponsor the bill.