The bipartisan, bicameral 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. French Hill (R-AR), automatically became law on July 11 after President Donald Trump allowed the 10-day period for his signature or veto to expire without taking action.
The comprehensive legislation aims to alleviate the nation’s housing shortage by reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers to new home construction, modernizing federal housing programs, and allowing banks to more freely deploy funding.
“Homeownership should be within reach for more Americans, and this law moves us closer to that goal,” Rep. Hill said on July 11. “This bill reduces unnecessary barriers to building, strengthens community banks, and ensures families — not institutional investors — have a fair shot at buying a home.”
The enacted H.R. 6644 revises federal housing programs, including by expanding available financing for affordable housing and providing grants for planning and community development activities.
For example, the law increases the statutory maximum loan limits for mortgage insurance programs administered by the Federal Housing Administration for multifamily homes and requires the use of a more specific inflation index for such loans, according to the Congressional Record bill summary.
The new law also increases the maximum eligible income for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) HOME Investment Partnerships Program, which are grants to states and localities to support housing for low-income households, and establishes a grant program to assist regional, state, and local entities with strategies to support affordable housing.
Among numerous other provisions, the law exempts certain housing-related activities from the environmental review process, including certain construction, improvement, or rehabilitation of residential buildings; excludes veterans’ disability benefits from being considered as income for purposes of determining eligibility for the Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program; and establishes a pilot program to provide grants to public housing agencies (PHAs) and other owners of federally assisted housing to test the efficacy of temperature sensors to support compliance with temperature requirements, the summary says.
“The final product reflects years of bipartisan, bicameral collaboration and proves that when Congress stays focused on results, we can deliver meaningful reforms,” said Rep. Hill, who originally sponsored H.R. 6644 in December 2025 alongside lead original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).