House lawmakers are set to pass a package of bills aimed at increasing housing affordability by giving builders and local governments incentives to boost construction by reducing regulations around home construction.
The legislation has strong bipartisan support, as does a largely similar Senate counterpart passed last year. That, as well as President Donald Trump’s focus on housing affordability, means the measure has momentum to become law before the end of the year.
“Nothing’s more personal to Americans than their opportunity to have a home,” Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., told reporters on Monday. “When you ask people what is central to their goals in life, mom and dad are working 55 hours a week and overtime and all these other things ... the idea is, how do we get into a house?”
The bill includes numerous provisions, including cutting housing and environmental regulations around constructing homes. Local communities could get grants to make it easier for builders by offering pre-reviewed housing designs, streamlining construction or housing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development would also develop best-practices for zoning guidelines.
Definitions around manufactured and modular housing would be updated to encourage more factory-built homes, which can be constructed in a fraction of the time compared to more traditional house-building methods.
