October 24, 2025
Ms. Stansbury introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to carry out a program that awards grants to Indian Tribes and Tribally designated housing entities for residential dwelling units with sustainable features, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Tribal Housing Innovation Act
.
Sec. 2. Grant program for residential dwelling units with sustainable features
(a) In general
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (referred to in this section as the Secretary
) shall, not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, establish a program to award grants on a competitive basis to eligible entities for 1 or both of the following activities on Tribal land:
(1)
Building a residential dwelling unit that has at least 1 sustainable feature.
(2)
Adding at least 1 sustainable feature to a residential dwelling unit.
(b) Application
An eligible entity that seeks a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may require, and the application shall contain the following information:
(1)
A plan for 1 or both of the activities described in subsection (a).
(2)
Each source of financing, other than the amounts of the grant, that the eligible entity intends to use to carry out the plan described in paragraph (1).
(3)
Information that demonstrates the ability of the eligible entity to carry out the plan described in paragraph (1).
(4)
If the eligible entity is a Tribally designated housing entity, for each Indian Tribe for which the Tribally designated housing entity seeks the grant, a certification that is on the letterhead of the Indian Tribe and authorizes the Tribally designated housing entity to submit an application under this section on behalf of the Indian Tribe.
(c) Rental requirement
An eligible entity that has built or modified a residential dwelling unit under this section may only rent the residential dwelling unit to an individual who—
(1)
if the eligible entity is an Indian Tribe, is a member of the Indian Tribe; or
(2)
if the eligible entity is a Tribally designated housing entity, is a member of an Indian Tribe served by the Tribally designated housing entity.
(d) Reporting requirements
(1) For eligible entities
Not later than 3 months after each fiscal year in which an eligible entity receives amounts under this section to carry out a plan described in this section, the eligible entity shall submit a report to the Secretary that contains the following information with respect to the fiscal year:
(A)
The number of residential dwelling units that have been built or modified under the plan and are owned, or intended to be owned, in whole or in part, as the home or residence of 1 or more individuals.
(B)
The number of residential dwelling units that have been built or modified under the plan and are leased, or intended to be leased, in whole or in part, as the home or residence of 1 or more individuals.
(C)
Each sustainable feature that has been added to a residential dwelling unit described in this paragraph.
(D)
Any other information that the Secretary may require.
(2) For the Secretary
Not later than 12 months after each fiscal year in which the Secretary awards a grant under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Congress a report on any national impact that the grant program under this section has had with respect to the activities described in subsection (a).
(e) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2025 and each subsequent fiscal year to carry out this section.
(f) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Consumer Price Index
The term Consumer Price Index means the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor.
(2) Eligible entity
The term eligible entity means any of the following:
(A)
An Indian Tribe.
(B)
A Tribally designated housing entity.
(3) Energy-efficient
The term energy-efficient means, with respect to a product, an Energy Star product or FEMP designated product, as such terms are defined in section 553 of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8259b).
(4) Indian Tribe
The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given such term under section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).
(5) Residential dwelling unit
The term residential dwelling unit means a dwelling unit that is owned or leased, or intended to be owned or leased, in whole or in part, as the home or residence of 1 or more individuals.
(6) Sustainable feature
The term sustainable feature means any of the following features:
(A)
Building-to-grid integration.
(B)
An electric heating system, including a heat pump.
(C)
An energy-efficient air filter.
(D)
An energy-efficient appliance, including an electric laundry machine.
(E)
Energy-efficient bathroom plumbing, including a low-flow toilet.
(F)
Energy-efficient lighting.
(G)
An energy-efficient window.
(H)
An energy monitoring device, including a smart meter or a smart thermostat.
(I)
Insulation for a roof, wall, or window.
(J)
A passive cooling system.
(K)
A solar panel.
(L)
Reflective roofing.
(M)
Any other feature that, as determined by the Secretary, would improve the sustainability of a residential dwelling unit or would be necessary to build a residential dwelling unit that is sustainable.
(7) Tribally designated housing entity
The term Tribally designated housing entity has the meaning given such term under section 4 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (25 U.S.C. 4103).