Two NAHB-Supported Permitting Reform Bills Advance in House

The House Natural Resources Committee on Nov. 20 approved two NAHB-supported permitting reform bills that would help alleviate regulatory roadblocks to home building.

The Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act would help reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and ensure that reviews are reserved for projects with federal involvement beyond just funding. It would also help shorten permitting timelines and ease the burden on federal agencies by simplifying the scope of analysis required.

The House panel also advanced the ePERMIT Act, legislation introduced by Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) that would help digitize permitting and improve transparency through all federal permits.

Digitizing the permitting system will speed up the permitting approval process and ease delays on housing projects that raise construction costs.

“The government, industries, and citizens all agree that it takes too long to build in America,” Rep. Johnson said when he introduced the bill. “Completing the permitting process by paper is an archaic waste of time. Digitizing the system will speed up the process, save federal dollars, and cut down delays. Making this commonsense change will unleash investment in American communities and workers.”

NAHB will urge the full House to quickly consider and pass these two bills as well as the PERMIT Act, the most impactful permitting reform package to increase housing supply, which has been pending in the chamber.