The ROAD to Housing Act (S 2651) and the Housing for the 21st Century Act (HR 6644) are two recent bipartisan legislative efforts aimed at addressing housing supply and affordability through state, local, and federal policy reforms. While they share similar goals, there are notable differences in approach, scope, and implementation.
1. Zoning and Land-Use Policy
21st Century (Sec. 101): Provides best practices for state and local zoning and land-use policies.
ROAD (Sec. 203): Includes additional monitoring requirements, a GAO study on housing supply barriers, and budget authorization language.
Key Difference: ROAD adds a findings section and formal monitoring provisions not present in 21st Century.
2. Grants for Local Housing Design
21st Century (Sec. 102): Creates a grant program to help local entities and tribes develop pattern books of pre-reviewed housing designs; grants cannot be used for construction or repairs.
ROAD (Sec. 210): Authorizes appropriations with a set-aside for technical assistance.
Key Difference: ROAD allows for technical assistance funding and includes appropriation authorization, while 21st Century clarifies restrictions on grant use.
3. Single-Stair Multifamily Buildings
21st Century (Sec. 103): Establishes guidelines for permitting single-stair multifamily buildings.
ROAD: Not included.
4. Streamlining Environmental Reviews
21st Century (Sec. 104) & ROAD (Sec. 207-208): Both streamline environmental reviews for certain housing activities.
Key Difference: None significant; both bills align on this policy.
5. Coordination of USDA and HUD Reviews
21st Century (Sec. 105): Exempts USDA assistance for infill housing from certain environmental studies.
ROAD (Sec. 802): Creates an advisory working group to support HUD and USDA in aligning and coordinating regulatory processes.
Key Difference: ROAD focuses on coordination through a working group, while 21st Century provides specific environmental exemptions.
6. FHA Multifamily Loan Limits
21st Century (Sec. 106): Updates statutory maximum loan limits for multifamily construction and reforms the formula used to set them.
ROAD (Sec. 213): Requires FHA to evaluate loan limits and allows adjustments to better match market costs and affordability.
Key Difference: 21st Century sets updated statutory limits; ROAD emphasizes ongoing evaluation and adjustment flexibility.
Takeaway:
Both acts aim to expand housing supply and affordability but differ in implementation details. ROAD focuses more on monitoring, coordination, and technical support, whereas Housing for the 21st Century emphasizes clear statutory updates, streamlined processes, and specific exemptions to accelerate housing development.
Bipartisan sponsorship across these measures highlights the broad support for housing policy reform at both the federal and local levels.
Katie Spillers, NALP, PMIC, CPO
Program Administrator - Legislative & Regulatory Affairs
Loebsack & Brownlee, PLLC
