HOUSE PASSES MAJOR HOUSING REFORM BILL IN STRONG BIPARTISAN VOTE
In a rare show of bipartisanship, the U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved the amended 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The bill passed by a vote of 396 to 13, advancing sweeping reforms designed to boost housing supply, slash regulatory red tape, and make homeownership more accessible for American families.
House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill, a Republican from Arkansas, praised the legislation as a practical, results-focused solution. “This bill prioritizes American families by expanding homeownership, enhancing affordability, reducing burdensome regulations that drive up costs, and increasing housing supply nationwide,” Hill said. He added that the measure delivers on President Trump’s call to limit large institutional investors from competing with everyday Americans for single-family homes.
Ranking Member Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California, underscored the crisis facing working families. “America is in the middle of a full-blown affordable housing and homelessness crisis,” Waters stated, noting skyrocketing rents and a market that has pushed homeownership further out of reach.
Key Provisions
The bill streamlines federal permitting, exempts qualifying infill and redevelopment projects from lengthy NEPA environmental reviews, and promotes modular and manufactured housing. It offers grants to local governments for zoning reforms that encourage new construction, raises loan limits for multifamily projects, and strengthens rural and veteran housing programs. Additional measures modernize small-dollar mortgage financing, expand community bank lending, and update FHA and VA loan programs.
The legislation also includes targeted restrictions on large institutional investors buying single-family homes, while adding renter protections and preserving pro-supply policies.
Industry Reaction and Next Steps
Major industry groups, including the Mortgage Bankers Association and the National Association of Realtors, welcomed the passage, saying it addresses key concerns while maintaining focus on increasing housing supply.
The bill now returns to the Senate, which earlier passed its version 89-10. Senate Banking Committee leaders Tim Scott, Republican of South Carolina, and Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, are expected to review the House amendments swiftly. If approved, the package would head to President Trump for signature.
Both chambers have shown strong bipartisan support for tackling restrictive zoning, slow permitting, and regulatory barriers that have worsened the nationwide housing shortage. Supporters say the reforms empower states and localities to build more homes through smarter processes and private-sector incentives — without massive new federal spending.
Housing affordability remains a top voter concern. Passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act signals that Washington can deliver meaningful, commonsense solutions to one of America’s most pressing domestic challenges.
