A bill to exempt from the requirements of NEPA the provision of certain assistance for the construction or modification of residential housing on infill sites, and for other purposes.

Senate Bill

S. 3970

119th Congress

A bill to exempt from the requirements of NEPA the provision of certain assistance for the construction or modification of residential housing on infill sites, and for other purposes.

In Committee

Introduced:Mar 3, 2026

Primary Sponsor

Sponsor information unavailable

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Summary

This bill would allow certain housing construction or renovation projects on infill sites (vacant lots within already-developed areas) to skip the environmental review process normally required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The exemption would apply to federal assistance provided for residential housing projects on these types of properties.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Introduced3/3/2026

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

ChamberSenate

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Vote Prediction

A bill to exempt from the requirements of NEPA the provision of certain assistance for the construction or modification of residential housing on infill sites, and for other purposes.

This bill would allow certain housing construction or renovation projects on infill sites (vacant lots within already-developed areas) to skip the environmental review process normally required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The exemption

Community Breakdown

Pass

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Fail

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0 predictions

This bill would allow certain housing construction or renovation projects on infill sites (vacant lots within already-developed areas) to skip the environmental review process normally required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The exemption would apply to federal assistance provided for residential housing projects on these types of properties.

Bill Number: 3970
Introduced: 3/3/2026
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: A bill to exempt from the requirements of NEPA the provision of certain assistance for the construction or modification of residential housing on infill sites, and for other purposes.
Bill Number: 3970
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Introduced: 3/3/2026
Summary: This bill would allow certain housing construction or renovation projects on infill sites (vacant lots within already-developed areas) to skip the environmental review process normally required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The exemption would apply to federal assistance provid

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would allow certain housing construction or renovation projects on infill sites (vacant lots within already-developed areas) to skip the environmental review process normally required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The exemption would apply to federal assistance provided for residential housing projects on these types of properties.

Last updated: 3/5/2026

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

The bill exempts certain federally-assisted residential housing projects from NEPA environmental review requirements.
The exemption applies specifically to construction or modification of housing on infill sites, which are vacant or underused parcels located within existing developed areas.
NEPA currently requires federal agencies to assess environmental impacts before approving projects that receive federal funding or permits.
The exemption would speed up the approval process for housing projects on infill sites by removing the environmental review step.
The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for consideration.

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would primarily affect developers, local governments, and housing agencies that receive federal assistance for residential construction projects on vacant lots in already-developed neighborhoods. It would also impact communities seeking to increase housing supply by making it faster and easier to build on infill sites. Environmental groups and residents concerned about environmental review of development projects may also be affected by the reduced oversight.

Policy Areas

No policy areas assigned yet.

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

3970, 119th Congress (2026). "A bill to exempt from the requirements of NEPA the provision of certain assistance for the construction or modification of residential housing on infill sites, and for other purposes.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-s-3970

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