Rule2026-02915
Removal of Regulations for the John Heinz Neighborhood Development Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 13, 2026
Effective
March 16, 2026
Issuing agencies
Housing and Urban Development Department
Abstract
This rule removes HUD's John Heinz Neighborhood Development Program regulations because the program has not been funded since 1998 and all grants have been closed out.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 30 (Friday, February 13, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6756-6757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-02915]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
24 CFR Part 594
[Docket No. FR-6576-F-01]
Removal of Regulations for the John Heinz Neighborhood
Development Program
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This rule removes HUD's John Heinz Neighborhood Development
Program regulations because the program has not been funded since 1998
and all grants have been closed out.
DATES: Effective Date: March 16, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wesley Armstrong, Department of
Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street SW, Room 7200,
Washington, DC 20410; telephone number 202-402-2107 (this is not a
toll-free number); email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b2e5d7c1ded7cb9ce09cf3c0dfc1c6c0dddcd5f2dac7d69cd5ddc4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5d0a382e313824730f731c2f302e292f32333a1d352839733a322b">[email protected]</span></a>. HUD welcomes and
is prepared to receive calls from individuals who are deaf or hard of
hearing, as well as individuals with speech or communication
disabilities. To learn more about how to make an accessible telephone
call, please visit: <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs">https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/telecommunications-relay-service-trs</a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 832 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992
(Pub. L. 102-550, 106 Stat. 3852, codified at 42 U.S.C. 5318a)
established the John Heinz Neighborhood Development Program as a
permanent program of the Department. Previously, the program had been
authorized and operated as a demonstration program, pursuant to section
123 of the Housing and Urban Rural Recovery Act of 1983 (42 U.S.C. 5318
note). The program's purpose was to assist communities to become more
viable, by providing incentive funds to carry out neighborhood
development activities that benefit low- and moderate-income families.
The program funded eligible neighborhood development activities
conducted by neighborhood development organizations, including, among
others, creating permanent jobs, establishing or expanding businesses,
improvements to housing stock, and promoting delivery mechanisms for
essential services. The incentive funds were provided as matching funds
with a particular emphasis on collaboration with private neighborhood
development funding organizations and were available to neighborhood
development organizations operating in neighborhoods that meet
requirements under 42 U.S.C. 5318, were in enterprise zones under
Federal or state law, or were considered qualified distressed
communities under 12 U.S.C. 1834(b)(1). HUD published regulations
implementing the program on March 29, 1995 (60 FR 16359).
II. This Final Rule
This rule is removing the John Heinz Neighborhood Development
Program regulations from title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
HUD is removing these regulations because the John Heinz Neighborhood
Development Program has run its course. The program was last funded in
1998 and all of its grants have been closed out as of 2025. As a
result, all regulations in part 594 are no longer necessary. Removing
these regulations would update HUD's regulations and provide clarity to
grantees on what programs are actively being funded.
[[Page 6757]]
III. Justification for Final Rulemaking
In accordance with regulations at 24 CFR part 10, it is the
practice of the Department to offer interested parties an opportunity
to comment on proposed regulations. 24 CFR part 10 provides narrow
exceptions to the notice and comment requirements if the Department
finds good cause to omit notice and public participation. The good
cause requirement under 24 CFR 10.1 may be satisfied when notice and
public comment are impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the
public interest. To publish a rule prior to receiving and responding to
public comments, the agency must find that at least one good cause
exceptions is applicable.
HUD has determined that good cause exists to promulgate this final
rule without prior notice and comment. Specifically, the Department has
concluded that it is unnecessary to solicit and respond to public
comments on this action because the John Heinz Neighborhood Development
Program was last funded in 1998 and all of its grants have been closed
out as of 2025. Furthermore, while the statutory authority for the
program continues to exist, HUD concludes that regulations are no
longer necessary. Accordingly, HUD has concluded there is good cause to
publish this rule prior to receiving and responding to public comments.
IV. Findings and Certifications
Regulatory Review--Executive Orders 12866 and 13563
Under Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review), a
determination must be made whether a regulatory action is significant
and, therefore, subject to review by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) in accordance with the requirements of the Executive
Order. Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulations and Regulatory
Review) directs executive agencies to analyze regulations that are
``outmoded, ineffective, insufficient, or excessively burdensome, and
to modify, streamline, expand, or repeal them in accordance with what
has been learned.'' Executive Order 13563 also directs that, where
relevant, feasible, and consistent with regulatory objectives, and to
the extent permitted by law, agencies are to identify and consider
regulatory approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and
freedom of choice for the public. This rule eliminates language in 24
CFR part 594 relating to a program which has not been funded since 1998
and which has no open projects or grants. Accordingly, this rule has
been determined not to be a ``significant regulatory action'' as
defined in section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866.
Regulatory Costs--Executive Order 14192
Executive Order 14192, entitled ``Unleashing Prosperity Through
Deregulation,'' was issued on January 31, 2025. Section 3(c) of
Executive Order 14192 requires that any new incremental costs
associated with new regulations shall, to the extent permitted by law,
be offset by the elimination of existing costs associated with at least
10 prior regulations. OMB has determined that this final rule does not
impose any regulatory costs as the regulations relate to a program
which has not been funded since 1998 and which has no open projects or
grants and is a repeal of a regulation for purposes of Executive Order
14192.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.)
generally requires an agency to conduct a regulatory flexibility
analysis of any rule subject to notice and comment rulemaking
requirements unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Because HUD has determined that good cause exists to issue this rule
without prior public comment, this rule is not subject to the
requirement to publish an initial or final regulatory flexibility
analysis under the RFA as part of such action.
Environmental Impact
This rule does not direct, provide for assistance or loan and
mortgage insurance for, or otherwise govern or regulate, real property
acquisition, disposition, leasing, rehabilitation, alteration,
demolition, or new construction, or establish, revise, or provide for
standards for construction or construction materials, manufactured
housing, or occupancy. Accordingly, under 24 CFR 50.19(c)(1), this rule
is categorically excluded from environmental review under the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321).
Executive Order 13132, Federalism
Executive Order 13132 (entitled ``Federalism'') prohibits an agency
from publishing any rule that has federalism implications if the rule
either: (i) imposes substantial direct compliance costs on State and
local governments and is not required by statute, or (ii) preempts
State law, unless the agency meets the consultation and funding
requirements of section 6 of the Executive Order. This rule does not
have federalism implications and does not impose substantial direct
compliance costs on State and local governments or preempt State law
within the meaning of the Executive Order.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
Title II of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1531
et seq.) (UMRA) establishes requirements for Federal agencies to assess
the effects of their regulatory actions on State, local, and Tribal
governments and the private sector. This rule does not impose any
Federal mandates on any State, local, or Tribal governments or the
private sector within the meaning of the UMRA.
List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 594
Community development, Grant programs--housing and community
development, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Urban renewal.
Accordingly, for the reasons discussed in the preamble, and
pursuant to the Secretary's authority under 42 U.S.C. 3535(d), HUD
removes 24 CFR part 594.
Ronald Kurtz,
Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 2026-02915 Filed 2-12-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 13, 2026.
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