LODGE Act

Lodging Options Developed for Government Employees Act or the LODGE Act

This bill expands the authority of the Department of the Interior to enter into agreements with housing entities to provide rental housing for employees.

The bill allows Interior to enter agreements with other federal agencies, state or local governments, tribal governments, or other public or private organizations to develop, construct, rehabilitate, or manage housing for rent to field employees and members of the public

• on public lands, including National Park System units;
• off public lands in the vicinity of system units; or
• on a combination of such lands.

Interior may allow field employees and members of the public to occupy and lease project quarters.

Field employees and members of the public shall be prohibited from subleasing housing established pursuant to this bill.

To the maximum extent practicable, priority for occupancy in project quarters shall be given to field employees.

Interior may allow partners in agreements to collect rents directly from housing occupants.

Interior, upon the expiration of a term of ownership, may renew the housing partnership agreement for terms not to exceed 10 years or may take other specified actions.

The bill modifies the lease-to-build program to allow Interior to lease federal land and interests in land to qualified persons for the construction of field employee quarters for any period not to exceed 60 years (under current law not to exceed 50 years).