
The Senate Banking Committee this week unanimously advanced the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025, a sweeping housing reform package led by Chair Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) aimed at addressing the housing crisis by expanding supply, improving affordability, and increasing oversight. It focuses on streamlining regulations, incentivizing construction, and supporting vulnerable populations like veterans and the homeless. The bill also seeks to modernize housing finance and disaster recovery programs. (Senate Banking Press Release, July 29)
Why It Matters

- The Real Estate Roundtable (RER) submitted a comment letter in support of ROAD Act ahead of the committee’s first bipartisan housing markup in over a decade. (Letter, July 28)
- The bill incentivizes states and cities to boost housing supply by cutting red tape, streamlining federal inspections, and eliminating duplicative regulations. The bill also directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to launch new grant and loan programs to address home repairs, health hazards, and support local zoning and development reforms. (The Hill, July 29)
- Sen. Scott highlighted the bipartisan effort, noting that housing access and affordability remains a top economic concern for Americans. “For far too long, Congress believed this problem was too big to solve. Today, we’re taking not a step—but we’re taking a leap in the right direction in a bipartisan fashion,” Sen. Scott said in remarks at the markup. (Senate Banking Press Release, July 29)
- The legislation contains more than 40 provisions contributed by every committee member and reflects a coordinated effort to modernize housing policy at the federal level. (Politico, July 29 )
- RER President and CEO Jeffrey DeBoer emphasized the legislation’s “smart, incentive-based approach” to removing regulatory obstacles and encouraging a broader range of housing options.
- “The ROAD Act aligns federal incentives with local decision-making in a way that will unlock private capital, enhance housing supply, and support long-term economic resilience,” DeBoer said.
Key Provisions in the ROAD Act

- Incentives for Housing Supply: Expands development opportunities in Opportunity Zones and near public transit, encourages adaptive reuse of vacant buildings, and supports modular and manufactured housing production.
- Zoning and Regulatory Reform: Directs HUD to publish best practice frameworks for state and local zoning and land use to reduce barriers to housing production.
- Streamlined Federal Programs: Coordinates HUD, Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) efforts to eliminate redundant rules and improve efficiency.
- Community Development Incentives: Rewards communities that expand housing supply with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocations under the Build Now Act.
- Rental and Loan Modernization: Raises RAD program caps and updates Federal Housing Administration multifamily loan limits to match market conditions.
- Disaster Recovery and Resilience: Permanently authorizes CDBG-Disaster Recovery and establishes a HUD office to support housing stability after disasters.
RER continues to work with Congress and the administration to address housing affordability challenges and to advance policies that will expand housing supply and economic stability.