Action Alert: House Releases Revised 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

May 14, 2026 — The House has released its version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, offering a revised substitute to the housing package that previously passed the Senate.

The House version keeps much of the bill’s bipartisan housing supply and program reform framework, but it also removes, restructures, or adds several provisions that matter to public housing authorities, redevelopment agencies, community development departments, and local housing leaders. Importantly, it removes onerous and unnecessary reporting requirements for existing Moving to Work (MTW) agencies.

For NAHRO members, the key takeaway is straightforward: the bill continues to move through Congress, but the House and Senate versions are not identical. Several provisions that would directly affect PHAs and community development programs remain part of the House package, while others will need to be resolved as the legislative process continues.

What Stayed in the House Version

The House version retains several provisions that are important to NAHRO members and local housing practitioners, including:

• Choice in Affordable Housing Act provisions to support Housing Choice Voucher operations, landlord participation, and inspection flexibility.
• HOME Investment Partnerships Program reforms intended to modernize and improve program administration, including language that would require HUD to report on the challenges related to Build America, Buy America.
• CDBG new construction authority allowing a portion of CDBG funds to be used for new affordable housing construction.
• Rural Housing Service reforms focused on improving federal rural housing programs.
• Environmental review streamlining intended to reduce delays for certain housing-related activities.
• Manufactured housing finance provisions aimed at improving access to manufactured housing and related financing tools.
• Housing supply provisions focused on planning, zoning, infill development, adaptive reuse, and local housing production.

Together, these provisions keep the House bill focused on housing supply, preservation, affordability, and program efficiency.

Major Differences from the Senate Version

The House and Senate versions share many of the same goals, but several important differences remain.

RAD permanence is not included

The Senate-passed bill included language to make the Rental Assistance Demonstration program permanent. The House version does not include that provision.

For PHAs, this is one of the most important differences between the two bills. RAD remains an important preservation tool for public housing properties with significant capital needs, and NAHRO will continue monitoring whether RAD language is included in any final package.

CDBG-DR authorization is not included

The Senate bill included language to permanently authorize the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program. The House version does not include that provision.

CDBG-DR is often a critical long-term recovery tool for communities recovering from disasters. Without permanent authorization, program requirements continue to be established through individual disaster supplemental appropriations.

A new MTW cohort is not included, but onerous reporting requirements for existing MTW PHAs have also been removed

The Senate version included a new Moving to Work cohort that also included language requiring considerable additional reporting requirements for existing MTW agencies. In a win, the House version does not include that provision or reporting requirements.

PHA Receivership Accountability

The House bill adds language focused on PHA accountability for PHAs under receivership or federal monitoring.

PRICE Act is not included

The Senate manufactured housing title included the PRICE Act, which focuses on manufactured housing community preservation. The House version keeps several manufactured housing production and financing provisions but does not include the PRICE Act.

This will be important to watch for communities where manufactured housing is a significant source of affordable housing.

Build Now Act is modified

The House version keeps the Build Now Act, which ties certain CDBG allocation adjustments to housing growth. However, the House version modifies the Senate approach by:

• Limiting the potential reduction for affected CDBG grantees.
• Expanding the disaster-related exemption.

For CDBG grantees, this reduces the risk of larger formula losses for communities that may face capacity, market, disaster recovery, or local implementation challenges. NAHRO supports this change.

New House Provisions to Watch

The House version also adds several provisions not included in the same way in the Senate version. These include:

• Public land transparency: A requirement for certain grantees to maintain a public database of undeveloped land they own.
• Point-access block guidance: Federal guidance related to single-stair or point-access block residential buildings.
• Eviction helpline: A new HUD-administered helpline for tenants in covered federally assisted rental housing.
• Temperature sensor pilot: A pilot program for public housing agencies and owners of covered federally assisted rental housing to test temperature sensors in residential units.
• PHA accountability language: New reporting, transparency, and oversight requirements for PHAs under receivership or federal monitoring.
• Community banking provisions: A broader set of provisions related to community banks and financial institutions.

These additions reflect the House’s approach to the package and may be part of future discussions as Congress works toward a final bill.

What NAHRO Members Should Watch

As the bill continues through the legislative process, NAHRO members should pay close attention to:

• Whether RAD permanence is included in any final package.
• Whether CDBG-DR authorization is included in any final package.
• Whether additional MTW reporting requirements are included.
• Whether the Choice in Affordable Housing Act provisions remain intact.
• How the new PHA accountability language is refined.
• Whether CDBG, HOME, and environmental review changes remain workable for local implementation.

The House and Senate versions both point toward a broad federal housing package, but the differences are significant. NAHRO will continue reviewing the House text and tracking negotiations as Congress works toward a final bill.

Take Action

The House is expected to consider the bill next week. NAHRO members are encouraged to contact their House members and share how federal housing and community development programs support residents, local housing providers, and communities.

Anyone can use NAHRO’s Action Alert Center to send a pre-drafted, customizable letter to their House delegation asking them to pass the House version of the 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The Action Alert Center provides timely calls to action and advocacy resources for housing and community development advocates, including letters that can be sent directly to members of Congress.

Bottom Line

The House version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act keeps the broader bipartisan housing framework alive while reopening several major issues that matter to PHAs, redevelopment agencies, community development departments, and the residents and communities they serve.

NAHRO will continue advocating for federal housing and community development policies that support local implementation, preserve affordable housing, expand housing supply, and strengthen the programs our members administer every day.