House, Senate negotiating sweeping federal housing bill

After the U.S. House of Representatives passed a far-ranging housing bill by a 390–9 vote, the House and Senate will negotiate over competing bills on the most significant housing policy reforms in decades.

Reconciling the House measure with the Senate’s more expansive ROAD to Housing Act, which includes 40 provisions spanning nearly every sector of the housing market, could prove difficult, according to a GlobeSt report. 

The Senate bill, passed earlier this congressional session, includes opportunity zones and innovation funds, small-dollar loan incentives, home repair assistance, and anti-homelessness initiatives. 

The House version attempts to influence local and state zoning, expand the use of pre-reviewed home designs, and revise federal rules such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and FHA mortgage insurance.

It also modifies core housing block grants, increases Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for affordable housing construction, and revises inspection schedules under HUD’s Section 8 program. It also launches a regional housing planning pilot and expands the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).

Another provision updates the definition of manufactured housing, permits financing for units with or without permanent chassis, and authorizes a HUD pilot to increase access to small-dollar mortgages of up to $100,000.