assistance to include measures the net effect of 
which would promote exclusionary zoning prac-
tices, restrict net production, or otherwise in-
crease barriers to housing construction. 
‘‘(5) GUIDELINES ON LOCAL ZONING FRAME-
WORKS.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 3 
years after the date of enactment of this sub-
section, the Assistant Secretary shall publish 
best practices for local zoning frameworks using 
the same public comment and consultation 
process described in paragraph (3)(B) with re-
spect to State zoning frameworks. 
‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—The best practices re-
quired under subparagraph (A) shall— 
‘‘(i) include recommendations regard-
ing— 
‘‘(I) the simplification and stand-
ardization of existing zoning codes; 
‘‘(II) the reduction or elimination 
of parking minimums; 
‘‘(III) the increase in maximum 
floor area ratio requirements and 
maximum building heights and the re-
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duction in minimum lot size and set-
back requirements; 
‘‘(IV) the elimination of restric-
tions against accessory dwelling units; 
‘‘(V) increasing by-right uses, in-
cluding duplex, triplex, or quadplex 
buildings; 
‘‘(VI) the reduction of obstacles 
to a range of housing types, including 
manufactured and modular housing; 
‘‘(VII) provisions to encourage 
transit-oriented development, includ-
ing increased permissible units per 
structure and reduced minimum lot 
sizes near existing or planned public 
transit stations; 
‘‘(VIII) improvements to the pub-
lic engagement processes, including— 
‘‘(aa) meaningful access for 
limited English proficient persons 
and effective communication im-
provements for persons with dis-
abilities; 
‘‘(bb) leveraging of virtual 
meeting technologies; and 
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‘‘(cc) proactive outreach in 
communities; 
‘‘(IX) provisions regarding review 
of by-right development proposals to 
streamline review and reduce uncer-
tainty, 
including 
non-discretionary, 
ministerial review; 
‘‘(X) recommendations regarding 
maximum review timelines; 
‘‘(XI) models for standardized 
community benefit agreements; 
‘‘(XII) best practices on the dis-
position of land owned by local gov-
ernments and transit authorities for 
affordable housing development; 
‘‘(XIII) mechanisms and incen-
tives to preserve affordability, limit 
disruption of low-income communities, 
and prevent or reduce displacement of 
existing residents; 
‘‘(XIV) other regulatory reforms 
to increase housing construction and 
reduce housing costs; and 
‘‘(XV) other land use measures 
that promote access to new housing 
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opportunities identified by the Sec-
retary; and 
‘‘(ii) consider— 
‘‘(I) local housing needs; 
‘‘(II) a range of affordability for 
rental units, with a prioritization of 
units attainable to extremely low-in-
come, low-income, and moderate-in-
come residents; 
‘‘(III) a range of affordability for 
homeownership units attainable to 
low- and moderate-income residents; 
‘‘(IV) the long-term cost to resi-
dents and businesses if more housing 
is not constructed; 
‘‘(V) barriers to accessing afford-
able housing in growing communities 
and communities with economic op-
portunities; and 
‘‘(VI) other policies or methods, 
as identified by the Secretary. 
‘‘(C) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Not later 
than 180 days after the date on which the As-
sistant Secretary receives a request for tech-
nical assistance from a local government or re-
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gional planning entity, the Assistant Secretary 
may provide technical assistance to those enti-
ties seeking to rehaul, reform, or otherwise up-
date local zoning frameworks in line with the 
guidelines described in paragraph (3), including 
assisting in hosting community engagement ses-
sions. 
‘‘(D) GUIDANCE.—In adopting a local zon-
ing framework in accordance with guidance 
issued under subparagraph (A), the Assistant 
Secretary shall not provide technical assistance 
to a local government or regional planning enti-
ty to include measures the net effect of which 
would promote exclusionary zoning practices, 
restrict net production, or otherwise increase 
barriers to housing construction. 
‘‘(6) REPORTING.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date on which the Assistant Secretary publishes 
the guidelines and best practices described in para-
graphs (3) and (5), the Assistant Secretary shall 
submit to Congress a report describing— 
‘‘(A) the States that have adopted a 
version of the guidelines and best practices, in-
cluding those that developed and adopted a 
State zoning framework; 
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‘‘(B) the localities that have adopted a 
version of the guidelines; 
‘‘(C) a summary of the modifications that 
each such State made in their State zoning 
framework; and 
‘‘(D) a general summary of the types of 
updates localities have made to their local zon-
ing framework. 
‘‘(7) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 
to carry out the technical assistance in paragraphs 
(4)(A) and (5)(C), and $10,000,000 to carry out 
this subsection, for each of fiscal years 2025 
through 2029.’’. 
(b) ABOLISHMENT
OF
REGULATORY
BARRIERS 
CLEARINGHOUSE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Regulatory Barriers 
Clearinghouse established pursuant to section 1205 
of the Housing and Community Development Act of 
1992 (42 U.S.C. 12705d) is abolished. 
(2) REPEAL.—Section 1205 of the Housing and 
Community Development Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 
12705d) is repealed. 
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SEC. 5. QUALIFIED ALLOCATION PLANS. 
The selection criteria under a qualified allocation 
plan under section 42 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986) shall not include consideration of— 
(1) any opposition with respect to the project 
from local or elected officials; or 
(2) any local government contribution to the 
project, except to the extent such contribution is 
taken into account as part of a broader consider-
ation of the project’s ability to leverage outside 
funding sources, and is not prioritized over any 
other source of outside funding. 
SEC. 6. NATIONAL ZONING MAPPING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish a 
grant program under which the Secretary provides fund-
ing to academic institutions, research collaboratives, non-
profit organizations, or other entities to conduct zoning- 
district-level digitization of zoning codes. 
(b) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall prioritize projects that will— 
(1) create a plan to maintain the database for 
such information; 
(2) establish a portal for State entities and 
local governments to input zoning-related informa-
tion; 
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(3) prioritize mapping areas whose zoning has 
not previously been digitized; 
(4) coordinate with State or local government 
entities, provide a plan for long-term maintenance of 
the database, and establish a protocol for data shar-
ing; and 
(5) develop tools to test the impact of various 
zoning and land use regulation reforms on the over-
all supply of new housing. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $3,500,000 for fiscal years 2025 through 
2027. 
SEC. 7. GRANTS FOR ESTABLISHING PRE-APPROVED DE-
SIGNS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED STRUCTURE.—The term ‘‘covered 
structure’’ means— 
(A) a low-rise or mid-rise structure with 
between 2 and 8 dwelling units; and 
(B) includes— 
(i) an accessory dwelling unit; 
(ii) a duplex; 
(iii) a triplex; 
(iv) a fourplex; 
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(v) a cottage court; 
(vi) a courtyard building; and 
(vii) any other structure the Secretary 
considers appropriate. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means a unit of general local government. 
(b) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may award grants 
to eligible entities to establish and implement designs for 
use of covered structures in the jurisdiction of the eligible 
entity that the eligible entity preapproves as affordable 
housing. 
(c) SET-ASIDE FOR SMALLER OR RURAL AREAS.— 
Of the amount made available in each fiscal year for 
grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that 
not less than 10 percent shall be used for grants to eligible 
entities that are smaller eligible entities or are located in 
rural areas. 
(d) REPORTS.—The Secretary shall require eligible 
entities receiving grants under this section to report on— 
(1) the impacts of the activities carried out 
using such grant amounts in improving the produc-
tion and supply of affordable housing; 
(2) the pre-approved designs established and 
implemented using such grant amounts in their com-
munities; and 
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(3) the impact of the activities funded with 
grant amounts. 
(e) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.—The Secretary 
shall— 
(1) make publicly available information on the 
pre-approved designs submitted by eligible entities 
receiving grants under this section, including infor-
mation on the benefits of use of such designs; and 
(2) collect, identify, and disseminate best prac-
tices regarding such designs to interested localities 
and parties. 
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal years 2025 through 
2027. 
Æ 
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