House Considers Several Housing Bills

On December 3, the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing  titled “Building Capacity: Reducing Government Roadblocks to Housing Supply” about various factors and policies that have influenced the housing supply shortage and the legislation proposed to address the issues. Over 40 bills were attached to the hearing, including bills to establish HUD as the primary federal authority for manufactured housing standards and to remove the requirement that manufactured homes be built on a permanent chassis.

H.R. 5263, introduced by Rep. Mike Flood (NE-01) and co-sponsored by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), establishes HUD as the primary federal authority to establish manufactured housing construction and safety standards. H.R. 6293 the Housing Supply Expansion Act, introduced by Rep. John Rose (TN-06) and co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Flood, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Rep Scott Peters (CA-50), Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), and Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46), eliminates the requirement that manufactured homes be built on permanent chassis.

“Since 1974, federal law has required that manufactured homes include a permanently installed chassis. This has significantly reduced the ability of young and low-income families to buy their own homes. Removing the permanent chassis requirement for manufactured homes will lower construction costs, unlock modern design flexibility, and open far more locations for quality, affordable housing,” said Rep. Rose during the hearing.

Other bills of note include:

• H.R. 4568, the Supporting Upgraded Property Projects and Lending for Yards (SUPPLY) Act (Rep. Sam Liccardo (CA-16)) – Authorizes the Federal Housing Administration to finance second lien loans for ADUs and requires FHFA to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase and securitize ADUs.
• H.R. 6269, To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to conduct a review of Federal Housing Administration construction financing programs to identify barriers to the use of modular home methods, and for other purposes (Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-08)) – Requires HUD to review FHA construction financing programs to identify barriers to use of modular home methods.
• H.R. 4659, the Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act (Rep. Flood) – Requires localities receiving Community Development Block Grant program funds to submit information on land-use policies.
• H.R. 2840, the Housing Supply Frameworks Act (Rep. Flood) – Requires HUD to publish best practices regarding zoning that supports housing.
• H.R. 5878, the HOME Reform Act of 2025 (Rep. Flood) – Excludes HOME Program Projects from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Build America Buy America (BABA) requirements.
• Discussion Draft: To require the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study that examines the cost and benefits of a Federal uniform residential building code (Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43)) – This discussion draft requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study regarding the establishment of a federal uniform residential building code.
• Discussion Draft: To require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to submit to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Financial Services of the House of Representatives a report with respect to incentivizing small dollar mortgages, and for other purposes (Rep. Waters) – Requires an FHA report on small dollar mortgages with a principal balance of $100,000 or less.

Nearly two-thirds of the committee were in attendance for the hearing, highlighting the growing bipartisan focus on housing supply. On December 16 and 17, the Committee plans to hold a markup where many of these bills will be considered.