Bills · HR 5085
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 5085Emergency Management
To exempt Federal actions related to the construction of infill housing from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.
INTRO SEP 2· LAST ACTION SEP 3
READING
4MIN
COSPONSORS
10
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenVoters should care about this bill because it aims to address housing shortages and affordability by speeding up the construction of new homes in existing urban areas. By exempting certain infill projects from detailed environmental reviews, it could reduce project timelines and costs, potentially leading to more available housing sooner.
However, it also means some projects supported by federal money would undergo less environmental scrutiny than before, which could lead to concerns about localized environmental impacts or community input on development. The change to FEMA's risk assessment updates is significant because it would provide communities and individuals with more current information on their natural disaster risks, helping them better prepare for and mitigate the effects of floods, wildfires, and other hazards.
KEY PROVISIONS
3AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Exempts Federal actions related to infill housing construction from key environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
This provision aims to accelerate housing development by removing a significant regulatory hurdle for projects that qualify as infill housing.
PROVISION 02
Defines 'infill housing' as residential housing on sites that are vacant or underutilized, previously developed with an urban use, less than 20 acres, largely surrounded by urban development, environmentally assessed, and not in high natural disaster risk zones.
This specific definition determines which projects qualify for the NEPA exemption, ensuring that only certain types of development in established areas are eligible.
PROVISION 03
Requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update its National Risk Index for natural hazards every three years instead of every five years.
This change provides more frequent updates on natural disaster risks, which can help communities and individuals make better-informed decisions about safety and planning.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 10
D· California
YRS IN OFFICE
1
BILLS LED
11
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 20%
DEM 9 REP 1 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
3 EVENTSSEP 3
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
SEP 2
Introduced in House
SEP 2
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 5085
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedSep 2, 2025
Last actionSep 3, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED SEP 2, 2025
House BillHR 5085Emergency Management
To exempt Federal actions related to the construction of infill housing from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and for other purposes.
INTRODUCED SEP 2, 2025· LAST ACTION SEP 3, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
4 min
COSPONSORS
10
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
