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Reports this week indicate that the White House is supporting a push by U.S. Senators, NLBMDA, and other industry partners to include the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025 as an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Congress considers the NDAA to be must-pass legislation that it aims to advance before the end of the year.
The NLBMDA-backed ROAD to Housing Act advanced through the Senate earlier this summer with strong bipartisan support and is widely regarded as the most significant housing legislation to move through the chamber in more than a decade. At its core, the ROAD to Housing Act includes 40 provisions that address three major areas: housing supply, affordability, and the efficiency of federal housing programs.
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Housing Supply: The bill addresses the national housing shortage by expanding tools to build more homes and diversify available options. It streamlines zoning and permitting and invests in infrastructure through a one-billion-dollar Innovation Fund. The legislation also establishes a HUD-administered grant program to help communities create preapproved housing designs, or patternbooks, to streamline and expedite local construction processes and build more homes. Provisions such as the Build Now Act and the Housing Supply Frameworks Act encourage localities to modernize land use policies, accelerate development timelines, and convert vacant or underused properties into livable housing.
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Affordability: The bill improves affordability through the reauthorization of the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, adjustments to FHA multifamily loan limits, and expanded financing options for banks. These provisions help preserve affordable units in both rural and urban areas.
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Program Efficiency: The bill streamlines and modernizes federal housing programs to deliver resources faster and reduce administrative burdens. It removes duplicative environmental reviews, simplifies inspections for units used with Housing Choice Vouchers, and reforms rural housing and homelessness programs to allow for greater flexibility. The Department of Housing and Urban Development also receives new authority to assess local regulatory barriers, promote best practices, and oversee program performance.
In October, the Senate added the ROAD to Housing Act to its version of the FY26 NDAA. This reflects a common congressional practice of attaching priority legislation to larger bills, often referred to as legislative vehicles, which increases the likelihood that both chambers will vote on and approve the measure. With the House now preparing to consider this legislation, efforts continue to ensure that the ROAD to Housing Act remains in the final NDAA package.
NLBMDA members are encouraged to contact their House representatives to support the inclusion of the ROAD to Housing Act in the FY2026 NDAA. To find your representative click here. NLBMDA, in conjunction with our strategic coalition partners, will continue advocating for the successful passage of the ROAD to Housing Act in Congress.
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