New Bills in Congress Target Housing Bottlenecks and Forest Management

Congress is moving on housing supply, permitting reform, and sustainable construction, issues close to home for the Bay Area.

The Unleashing Needed Local Options to Construct and Keep Housing (UNLOCK) Act, introduced by Reps. Sam Liccardo and Mike Flood, would streamline federal environmental reviews under NEPA for many housing activities, from small-scale infill projects to office-to-residential conversions. By treating more projects as exempt or low-impact, the bill aims to cut approval times and lower costs—potentially speeding affordable housing delivery in regions like ours where delays drive prices up.

The Cut Red Tape for Housing Act, sponsored by Rep. Laura Friedman, goes further by exempting qualifying infill housing on already developed urban land from NEPA review altogether. Projects must pass environmental checks and avoid high-risk flood or wildfire zones, but the intent is clear: fast-track urban redevelopment on scarce land where housing is most needed.

Finally, the Forest Bioeconomy Act, sponsored by Senators Steve Daines, Martin Heinrich, Raphael Warnock, and Jim Justice, would boost research and commercialization of forest products, including renewable fuels and mass timber. The bill would fund a new science and education program to help architects and developers advance tall wood buildings, offering low-carbon construction options with real promise for Bay Area decarbonization and housing innovation.

Together, these bills highlight a federal push to reduce barriers to building while promoting sustainable materials, priorities in tight alignment with the Bay Area’s housing and climate goals. We will be watching these bills closely as they move through committee.