The ROAD to an impactful Housing Bill
Legislation takes a comprehensive approach to solving some of our country’s biggest housing challenges – housing supply, affordability, and community development challenges.
The bipartisan ROAD to Housing Bill passed the Senate this October as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This Housing Bill (S.2651) was championed by leaders including Senators Elizabeth Warren (D) and Tim Scott (R) – AIA has joined other housing advocates in supporting the legislation prior to its passage.
Here are a few key parts of the bill we’re especially excited about:
- Sec. 203: Housing Supply Frameworks Act
Directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop best-practice zoning frameworks, recognizing architects as essential members of planning teams. - Sec. 205: Community Investment and Prosperity Act
Raises the limit on how much banks can invest in affordable housing, helping more developments move forward. - Sec. 209: Innovation Fund
Creates new, flexible grants to help communities increase housing supply and strengthen infrastructure. - Sec. 501: Reforming Disaster Recovery Act
Makes permanent fundings for disaster recovery programs like CDBG-DR funds, supporting resilient rebuilding after storms, floods, and other disasters. - Sec. 502: HOME Program Reauthorization
Keeps funding in place for the vital HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which helps build and preserve affordable housing.
Right now, this bill’s future depends on the House of Representatives, and it is facing additional hurdles. The House-passed version of the NDAA does not include the key housing provisions found in the Senate bill. The two chambers now must work out their differences in a conference committee—a meeting between a small group of lawmakers from both the House and the Senate where they work to combine their versions of the same bill into one final package. Once they agree, both chambers vote again before it can become law.
Major groups, including AIA and housing advocates, are actively calling for the members who will be in the conference committee to retain these key housing provisions in the final legislation.
AIA has formally thanked Senators Warren and Scott via a letter dated October 15, 2025. What’s next?
We are now pushing for the swift passage and implementation of this bill in the House, while continuing to address concerns around design quality, environmental review standards, and ensuring professional input is protected. Over the coming weeks, we will be monitoring negotiations and encouraging Congressional leaders to preserve competitive grants, robust disaster recovery, and meaningful roles for architects in land use and planning policy.
You can go to our ROAD action center to contact your members of Congress about the most up-to-date and pressing need to push this legislation forward.