Category: Housing and Energy Policy

House Committees Mark Up Key Housing and Energy Bills

Posted on by abigail_grenadier

Policymakers marked up a series of housing and energy measures this week focused on streamlining project approvals, updating efficiency standards, and addressing federal funding for state and local energy laws. The discussions highlighted bipartisan momentum around reforms to bolster grid reliability and reduce housing costs.

SPEED Act Mark Up

  • The House Natural Resources Committee on Thursday marked up the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act (H.R. 4776) and adopted a bipartisan amendment limiting executive-branch authority to cancel energy project permits, a key issue in broader negotiations. (PoliticoPro, Nov. 20 | Watch Mark-Up)
  • The bill would amend the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to streamline environmental reviews and reduce litigation delays for projects requiring federal funding and permits. (The Hill, Nov. 17)
  • House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman (R-AR) said, “NEPA reform helps everything. “It helps electrical transmission. It helps pipelines. It helps traditional energy sources. It helps new energy sources. It helps transportation and infrastructure projects.”  If NEPA reform passes “everybody wins,” he added.
  • Jeffrey DeBoer, RER President and CEO, said, “Permitting reform is essential to strengthening the nation’s electric grid and infrastructure. The current patchwork of federal, state and local approvals delays the delivery of affordable, reliable power to homes and commercial buildings. The Roundtable supports efforts—like the SPEED Act—to modernize permitting, improve grid resilience, and ensure the infrastructure needed for long-term economic growth.”
  • The SPEED Act is expected to continue to draw bipartisan support in the House. Ongoing Senate negotiations are reportedly addressing renewable-energy protections, emissions-reduction provisions, and a potential broader package blending transmission policy, clean-energy safeguards, and litigation limits. (E&E News, Nov. 17)
  • Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) called the bill a “huge step forward,” and urged Democratic colleagues to support it, while seeking further adjustments to curb the executive branch’s ability to cancel energy project permits. (Press Release | PoliticoPro, Nov. 20)

House Energy & Commerce Mark Ups

  • On Wednesday, a House Energy and Commerce subcommittee marked up eight energy-related bills, reflecting contrasting approaches to energy affordability and building efficiency standards as lawmakers debate rising energy and housing costs. (PoliticoPro, Nov. 19 | Committee Press Release )
  • The subcommittee approved several CRE-relevant bills that now move to the full committee for consideration.
  • Energy Choice Act (H.R. 3699): Advanced by voice vote. Aims to prevent state/local laws that would ban the use of natural gas in buildings. (A “ban on gas bans” aligns with RER’s 20-Point Policy Guide on Building Performance Standards)
  • Affordable Housing Over Mandating Efficiency Standards Act (H.R. 5184): Advanced by voice vote. Aims to reduce stringent energy efficiency codes for manufactured housing and negatively impact housing affordability.
  • Homeowner Energy Freedom Act (H.R. 4758): Approved 16–14 along party lines. Aims to eliminate federal funding under the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act, which provides grants to states and localities to support the highest-level energy codes, building electrification mandates, and other building performance standards. (Roundtable Weekly, Feb. 28)
  • Energy Subcommittee Chair Bob Latta (R-OH) said, “The legislation before us today represents an opportunity for this committee to implement reforms that re-prioritize energy efficiency policies toward the items that matter most to consumers: Affordability, availability, and durability.” (PoliticoPro, Nov. 19)

Climate Disclosure Law

  • In other energy news this week, a federal appeals court issued a preliminary injunction halting enforcement of California’s SB 261, requiring companies with at least $500M in global revenue to report climate-related financial risks starting January 2026. (ESG Dive | PoliticoPro, Nov. 18)
  • The court blocked SB 261, pending litigation over First Amendment concerns. It did not block SB 253, which requires corporations with $1B+ in revenue to begin reporting scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2026, and scope 3 in 2027. The trial on the First Amendment claim is scheduled for October 2026. (RER Fact Sheet, 2023; RW Sept. 2023)

RER will continue working with policymakers as Congress weighs permitting reform and energy policy measures that directly affect commercial real estate investment, housing supply, and the reliability of the nation’s power grid

Roundtable to House Committee: Balance Housing and Energy Efficiency Priorities

Posted on by Trey Jackson

The Real Estate Roundtable asked House lawmakers on Wednesday to direct the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reconsider a recent federal energy codes rule because it does not adequately consider impacts on affordable housing. (Roundtable Statement, May 22 for House Hearing)

HUD’s Energy Codes Rule

  • Last month, HUD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a joint rule that applies the most recent, stringent—and costly—model energy code standards to new residential construction receiving the agencies’ financial support. (Roundtable Weekly, May 3)
  • The rule would apply to both single- and multifamily homes covered by HUD and USDA programs, including homes backed with federal mortgage insurance. HUD itself estimated the rule would add at least $7,229 to the cost of building a new single-family home. (HUD’s rule | House subcommittee memo)
  • The May 22 House hearing considered how HUD’s rule and other green building policies impact homeownership, price buyers out of the market, and burden renters. The National Association of Home Builders testified at the hearing, and the National Multifamily Housing Council and National Apartment Association submitted a joint statement. (Subcommittee hearing YouTube video)

Roundtable Recommendations

  • The Roundtable’s statement explained that policymakers must prioritize both the climate crisis and our nation’s housing crisis, but that HUD’s federal codes rule is not balanced and should be re-considered.
  • The new nationwide rule imposing the highest energy efficiency standards, currently adopted by only a handful of states, must be assessed in light of the Biden-Harris administration’s goals to address the serious U.S. housing shortage and create two million affordable units. (Biden Administration Affordable Housing Policy Fact Sheet, March 7)
  • RER’s letter also explained how the new federal codes rule adds yet another layer to a stacked mix of stringent government rules and other headwinds that have made single- and multifamily housing construction a “hyper-regulated business.”
  • Reducing buildings’ energy use and climate emissions are critical policies, but the Administration should not pass new regulations that “make the housing crisis worse,” The Roundtable explained. A more balanced re-assessment of HUD’s and USDA’s action is warranted.

This week’s hearing follows House testimony recently delivered by Roundtable President and CEO Jeff DeBoer, who reinforced the messages that the health of commercial and residential real estate markets are intertwined—and excessive regulations that make housing prices and rents unaffordable for working-class families must be avoided. (DeBoer’s April 30 oral statement and written testimony | Roundtable Weekly, April 30)

#  #  #