Essential Advocacy Points for March 2026

On Thursday, March 12, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act 89-10, a sweeping majority. The Senate combined the House (Housing in the 21^st Century Act) and Senate (ROAD to Housing Act) housing bill packages into one overall package with some changes. NAHRO congratulates the Senate on passing the 21^st Century ROAD to Housing Act, and the leadership of Senate Banking Committee: Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) (former NAHRO Legislator of the Year) and Ranking Member Warren one of NAHRO’s 2026 Legislators of the Year) for their hard work on this critical issue The House passed its version of the bill, 390-9 back in February. House Republicans are criticizing the Senate version over restrictions on institutional investors in housing markets and other banking deregulations.

House Republicans could:

• Pass the bill the Senate sends, as is
  • The Trump Administration has publicly signaled its support for the bill but is considering prioritizing a Voting Rights provision it wishes to pass first.
• Conference the bill with the Senate
  • Compare versions and negotiate a compromise bill that combines elements of both chamber’s proposals into a package they think the President would sign.

NAHRO is encouraged by the bill’s many provisions that streamline construction, expands RAD and the Opportunity Zone program, and improves inspection processes, but NAHRO is concerned about the following provisions:

• Section 205—Build Now Act
• Section504 – New Moving to Work Cohort
• Section 901—Homes Are for People, Not Corporations
• Removal of BABA Study Language

Click Here for more information on NAHRO’s concerns with the bill’s provisions.

NAHRO joined housing and community development industry partners in calling for the House and Senate to conference the bill to create the most effective bipartisan, bicameral housing bill possible. NAHRO’s additional 2026 Legislator of the Year, Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE), Chair of the House Financial Services Housing and Insurance Subcommittee, commented that a conference committee “may be the most viable path forward,” he said.

NAHRO, along with PHADA, CLPHA, and the MTW Collaborative also issued a statement on March 13^th thanking the Senate for their work and asking the House to remove concerning provisions in the bill during a conference process, including new, burdensome MTW reporting requirements.

Take Action: House Members Need Your Support

NAHRO has a new letter in the Action Alert Center calling on the House of Representatives to negotiate the final housing bill package with the Senate. There’s momentum in the House to negotiate, tell Your Member you stand with and support negotiations with the Senate!

Share this letter with anyone affected by rising housing costs!