Grants for establishing pre-reviewed designs for mixed-income housing

(a) Authority The Secretary may award grants to eligible entities to establish designs of covered structures for use in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity that the eligible entity pre-reviews as mixed-income housing. (b) Considerations In reviewing applications submitted by eligible entities for a grant under this section, the Secretary shall consider— (1) the need for affordable housing by the eligible entity; (2) the presence of high opportunity areas in the jurisdiction of the eligible entity; (3) coordination between the eligible entity and a regulating or non-regulating State agency; (4) coordination between the eligible entity and State, local, and regional transportation planning authorities; and (5) steps the eligible entity has taken to reduce barriers to housing development related to land use regulations, permitting, or related procedural issues. (c) Set-Aside for 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 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 the grant amounts in improving the production and supply of affordable housing; (2) the pre-reviewed designs established using the grant amounts in their communities; (3) the number of permits for pre-reviewed designs issued; and (4) the number of housing units produced using the pre-reviewed designs. (e) Availability of information The Secretary shall— (1) to the extent possible, encourage localities to make publicly available through a website information on the pre-reviewed designs submitted by eligible entities receiving grants under this section, including information on the benefits of use of those designs; and (2) collect, identify, and disseminate best practices regarding such designs to interested localities and parties. (f) Repayment The Secretary may require an eligible entity to return to the Secretary any grant funds received under this section if the pre-reviewed designs submitted under this section have not been approved during the 5-year period following receipt of the grant, unless that period is extended by the Secretary. (g) Authorization of appropriations (1) In general There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. (2) Technical assistance The Secretary may set aside not more than 10 percent of amounts appropriated under paragraph (1) in a fiscal year to provide technical assistance to grant recipients under this section and pre-grant technical assistance for prospective applicants.