What does Preamble of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act do?

This bill is formally titled “An Act to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes.”

What does REFORMS TO HOUSING COUNSELING AND FINANCIAL LITERACY of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act do?

This section amends the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968 to modify requirements for housing counseling programs. The Secretary is authorized to conduct periodic and performance reviews of organizations receiving assistance under the Act. Performance reviews will assess compliance with program requirements and may consider counselor performance relative to borrower default rates in comparable markets. The Secretary may require continued education, retesting, or suspend counselor certifications if they demonstrate a lack of competence. The Secretary may deny renewal of assistance to organizations not complying with program requirements based on performance reviews. Organizations facing denial of renewal are entitled to a 60-day notice and an informal conference to present mitigating factors. Borrowers with covered mortgage loans who are 30 days or more delinquent are to be offered an opportunity to participate in housing counseling. For certain covered mortgage loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration, the cost of counseling for delinquent borrowers may be paid by the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund.

What does FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR POINT-ACCESS BLOCK BUILDINGS. of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act do?

This section directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to issue guidelines within 18 months of enactment to assist states, territories, tribes, and localities in permitting point-access block residential buildings. The guidelines should consider fire safety, construction costs, housing affordability, diverse consumer needs, and examples of single-stair codes from the U.S. and international standards. HUD is instructed to coordinate with the International Code Council to encourage the incorporation of point-access block building provisions into the International Building Code. A competitive grant program may be established by HUD to fund pilot projects evaluating the safety, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness of point-access block buildings; this program will terminate seven years after enactment. Projects assisted under this section will be treated as projects assisted under the Community Development Block Grant program. This section clarifies that it does not preempt state or local building codes. The term 'eligible entity' includes a broad range of organizations, including states, local governments, non-profits, developers, and academic institutions. A 'point-access block building' is defined as a residential structure with a single internal stairway providing access and egress for all units, not exceeding six stories.

What does EXEMPTION ON CONSTRUCTION OR MODIFICATION OF RESIDENTIAL of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act do?

This section establishes an exemption for the Secretary of Agriculture when providing assistance under specified Housing Act of 1949 sections for construction or modification of residential housing on infill sites. The Secretary is not required to conduct environmental studies or reports for such assistance. The Secretary must submit a report to congressional committees within five years of enactment, evaluating the impact of this section on application review times, administrative costs, and the affordable housing sector in rural America. The report must also include any legislative recommendations from the Secretary. The section defines 'greenfield' as undeveloped land and 'infill site' as a site served by existing infrastructure, excluding sites with only road access, high-risk flood zones, and greenfields.

What does DATABASE OF PUBLICLY OWNED LAND. of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act do?

This section amends the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974. It requires grantees to maintain a publicly accessible, searchable database identifying all parcels of undeveloped land they own. The creation and maintenance of this database is designated as an eligible activity. These amendments take effect on October 1, 2026.

What does FHA SMALL-DOLLAR MORTGAGES. of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act do?

This section establishes a pilot program within the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to increase access to small-dollar mortgages. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, through the Federal Housing Commissioner, may implement this program within one year of enactment. The pilot program may include direct payments to mortgagees, adjustments to FHA terms and costs, grants for mortgagors to cover costs like down payments and appraisals, outreach, and technical assistance. The Federal Housing Commissioner must submit annual reports to Congress tracking the outcomes of the program and analyzing risks to the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund. These reports will include data on the number, balance, and demographics of small-dollar mortgages, as well as information on fixed costs and regional needs. A 'small-dollar mortgage' is defined as a mortgage with an original principal balance of $100,000 or less, secured by a 1- to 4-unit property that is the mortgagor's principal residence. The pilot program will terminate four years after its establishment. After a three-year period from enactment, the Secretary and Commissioner may not establish new pilot programs for small-dollar mortgages.

What does TEMPERATURE SENSOR PILOT PROGRAM. of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act do?

This section establishes a temperature sensor pilot program within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program provides grants to public housing agencies and owners of federally assisted rental units to acquire, install, and test temperature sensors. Eligibility criteria for participation in the pilot program must be established within 180 days of the Act's enactment. The pilot program aims to include a diverse range of participants across different geographic and climate regions. Temperature sensors must be installed with written permission from residents. Data collected from the sensors will be retained until the pilot program evaluation is complete. HUD must establish standards for protecting personally identifiable information collected during the pilot program. The Secretary will publish interim and final reports to Congress, examining temperature-related complaints and identifying barriers to sensor utility. Projects assisted under this section will be treated as projects assisted under the Community Development Block Grant program. The pilot program will terminate three years after the date of enactment.

What does HOUSING SUPPLY FRAMEWORKS. of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act do?

This section establishes guidelines and best practices for State and local zoning frameworks to support housing production. The Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research at HUD will publish these guidelines within three years of the Act's enactment. Development of the guidelines will involve public comment and consultation with a task force including urban planners, housing developers, community members, and state officials. The guidelines will address topics like reducing parking minimums, increasing building heights, eliminating restrictions on accessory dwelling units, and streamlining review processes. The guidelines will also consider the effects of recommendations on federal grant eligibility and coordinate housing planning with infrastructure investments. The Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse established in 1992 is abolished and repealed. Five years after the final guidelines are published, the Assistant Secretary must submit a report to Congress detailing adoption rates and the effects of these adoptions. HUD cannot take adverse actions against states or localities that decline to adopt the guidelines.

What does INCREASING HOUSING IN OPPORTUNITY ZONES. of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act do?

This section defines a 'covered grant' as a competitive grant related to housing construction, modification, rehabilitation, or preservation, as determined by the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development may prioritize applicants for covered grants whose activities or projects are located in, or substantially and directly benefit, qualified opportunity zones. Qualified opportunity zones are defined under section 1400Z-1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

What does WHOLE-HOME REPAIRS ACT. of 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act do?

This section establishes a pilot program to provide grants to implementing organizations for whole-home repairs. Eligible home-owners and landlords can receive grants or forgivable loans to implement repairs not covered by other federal programs. An 'affordable unit' is defined as one where rent is no more than 30% of the tenant's gross income, up to 80% of the area median income. Implementing organizations must submit annual reports to the Secretary detailing program activities and compliance. The pilot program is authorized until October 1, 2031.

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21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

Last updated: 6/23/2026 · Introduced: 12/11/2025

Author: J. Hill (R-AR)

TL;DR (AI)

The bill modifies housing counseling programs and allows the Secretary to conduct performance reviews of organizations receiving assistance.
Federal guidelines for point-access block buildings will be established to facilitate permitting and may include a grant program for pilot projects.
An exemption is created for the Secretary of Agriculture from environmental studies for residential construction on infill sites.
A publicly accessible database of undeveloped land parcels owned by grantees will be required to be maintained.
A Pilot Program within the FHA will be established to increase access to small-dollar mortgages through various incentives.
The Whole-Home Repairs Act will provide grants for whole-home repairs to eligible homeowners and landlords.
The bill establishes a program for grants to support planning and implementation activities related to affordable housing.

119th Congresspassed bothHR. 6825(In Committee)Official page

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