Summary of HR 6773 (2025)

Overview

• Bill Number: HR 6773
• Title: To amend the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to require that grantees of the Community Development Block Grant program maintain a database of publicly owned land.
• Introduced: December 17, 2025
• Status: Introduced in the House; referred to the House Committee on Financial Services (2025-12-17)

Purpose and Intent

The bill would require recipients of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to establish and maintain a database of publicly owned land. The aim appears to be greater transparency and accountability around publicly owned real property, supporting better planning, land use decisions, and avoidance of unnecessary or duplicate acquisitions. By centralizing information on publicly owned parcels, the measure seeks to assist local governments and the public in understanding land assets within a jurisdiction.

Key Provisions (as indicated by the bill’s title)

• Mandatory database: CDBG grantees (typically state and local governments that administer CDBG-funded activities) must establish and maintain a searchable database documenting publicly owned land.
• Data elements (expected, but not specified in the summary): While the full text would specify exact fields, typical elements would include parcel identification, location (address or coordinates), parcel size, current use, ownership, acquisition date, current zoning or land use designation, and status (e.g., active, under development, surplus, condemned).
• Public accessibility: The database would likely be required to be publicly accessible, ensuring transparency to residents and stakeholders.
• Maintenance and updates: Grantees would be obligated to keep the information current, including updates to ownership changes, land use changes, or disposition statuses.
• Reporting and oversight: The measure may include periodic reporting or certification to ensure compliance, potentially tying compliance to CDBG grant administration.

Note: The exact data fields, public access standards, update frequency, and enforcement mechanisms would be detailed in the bill’s full text. The summary reflects the core intent indicated by the title.

Affected Parties

• CDBG grantees: Local governments, municipalities, and states receiving CDBG funds would bear the primary responsibility for creating and maintaining the publicly owned land database.
• Public and stakeholders: Residents, community organizations, and planning authorities would gain access to a centralized land asset resource.
• Federal program administration: The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or the relevant federal oversight body would oversee compliance, reporting, and potential enforcement provisions as specified in the full bill.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

• Referral: The bill was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services on December 17, 2025.
• Process status: As of introduction, the bill has not yet progressed to floor consideration; further actions would depend on committee review, markup, and potential passage by the House, followed by Senate consideration and presidential action.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

• Administrative burden: Grantees may need to establish new data systems, assign staff, and implement data governance policies.
• Transparency benefits: A publicly accessible land database could improve community planning, land disposal decisions, and coordination among agencies.
• Equity and accessibility: Public access to land information could support community groups in identifying opportunities for redevelopment or preservation.
• Data quality and privacy: The bill would need to balance transparency with any restrictions on sensitive information and ensure data accuracy.

For a complete understanding, the full text would be required to confirm specific definitions, data fields, access requirements, timelines, and enforcement mechanisms.