Senate and House leaders agreed Tuesday to a final version of comprehensive housing legislation that they believe will pass the Senate this week and the House next week, landing on the president’s desk for his expected signature.
The deal puts the chambers within reach of concluding almost a year of work on a major package that aims to increase housing supply and decrease costs for the living expense that often ranks at the top of voters’ affordability concerns.
The Senate took the first step toward advancing the final housing measure by voting to bring the bill up for debate on Tuesday afternoon. The 87-8 vote presages similar bipartisan backing on passage later this week.
The House would have to pass the bill next week to clear it for President Donald Trump’s signature, which also seems like a forgone conclusion given the involvement and backing from the bicameral, bipartisan leadership of the two financial services committees, and their respective party leadership.
The legislation contains nearly four dozen provisions based on stand-alone measures, most of which have bipartisan co-sponsors. They would streamline housing regulations to bolster the construction of affordable housing, change rules to increase manufactured housing and encourage localities to ease zoning rules, among other changes.
