The U.S. House of Representatives passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act on Wednesday with overwhelming bipartisan support, advancing sweeping reforms designed to expand homeownership and restrict large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes.
The bill cleared the chamber with a 396-13 vote, combining elements from earlier House and Senate packages to address the nation’s acute housing shortage that has pushed prices and rents to historic levels. The legislation streamlines federal permitting, expands housing supply, and imposes targeted restrictions on corporate acquisition of single-family properties.
What the Bill Contains
The package simplifies federal permitting processes and exempts certain infill and redevelopment projects from lengthy environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act. It provides grants to local governments for zoning reforms that encourage construction and raises loan limits for multifamily housing to spur apartment development.
The legislation includes measures to strengthen rural and veteran housing programs while modernizing financing for small-dollar mortgages. It also enhances community bank involvement in lending and updates outdated FHA and VA loan programs.
A central provision restricts large institutional investors from acquiring single-family homes, prioritizing these properties for individual homebuyers rather than corporate portfolios. The bill additionally improves access to credit and includes safeguards for renters while maintaining pro-supply policies.
Bipartisan Support
House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill (R-Ark.) praised the legislation as focused on practical results. “This bill prioritizes American families by expanding homeownership, enhancing affordability, reducing burdensome regulations that drive up costs, and increasing housing supply nationwide,” Hill stated.
Ranking Member Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) emphasized the urgency of the crisis facing American renters. “America is in the middle of a full-blown affordable housing and homelessness crisis, and working families are burdened by skyrocketing rents and a housing market that is pushing homeownership further out of reach,” Waters said.
What Happens Next
The bill now returns to the Senate for consideration of the House amendments. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who helped craft the original framework, are expected to review the changes quickly.
The Senate previously passed an earlier version 89-10, signaling strong likelihood of final passage. If the Senate concurs with House amendments, the package moves to President Donald Trump’s desk for signature.
Industry groups including the Mortgage Bankers Association and National Association of Realtors applauded the passage, citing its approach to addressing housing shortage through regulatory reform and private-sector incentives rather than substantial new federal spending.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Political Unit contributed to this report.
