A major bipartisan housing package, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, has passed both the U.S. House and Senate with overwhelming support but is currently awaiting presidential action. (President Trump canceled the recent bill signing until Congress passes the SAVE America Act to nationalize election procedures, however.)

The ROAD to Housing Act is designed to increase housing supply, improve affordability and modernize federal housing programs. Key provisions include:

  • Streamlining housing development by accelerating federal environmental reviews and reducing regulatory barriers that slow residential construction.
  • Increasing housing supply through reforms that encourage new home construction, multifamily development, manufactured housing and modular housing.
  • Limiting large institutional investors’ ownership of single-family homes, a provision intended to improve opportunities for individual homebuyers and reduce competition from large investment firms.
  • Strengthening community bank participation in housing finance by providing regulatory relief and expanding access to capital for local lenders supporting housing development and homeownership.
  • Expanding affordable housing financing tools and modernizing federal housing programs to better support local housing development efforts.
  • Supporting disaster recovery and community development programs, including extensions of federal housing recovery resources for communities affected by natural disasters.

For Indiana employers, housing availability is increasingly tied to workforce participation, talent attraction and long-term economic competitiveness. As employers across the state work to fill critical positions, the availability of affordable, quality housing near employment centers has become an essential factor in recruiting and retaining talent.

The legislation represents one of the most comprehensive federal housing reform efforts in years and could have long-term implications for workforce availability, economic development and community growth across Indiana and the nation.

Camille D. Blunt is the Indiana Chamber’s vice president of government affairs. She has served as the legislative director for the City of Indianapolis and has worked in public affairs for law firms in central Indiana. She joined the organization in July 2025.