The House approved a sweeping bipartisan housing bill on Wednesday with a 396-13 vote, advancing legislation designed to expand homeownership, reduce costs, and restrict institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes.
The amended 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act now heads to the Senate for consideration. House leaders characterized the measure as a response to the housing affordability crisis affecting millions of American families across the country.
What the Bill Does
The legislation’s centerpiece is a provision banning large corporate investors from buying newly constructed single-family homes. The House rejected a more aggressive Senate version that would have forced existing institutional landlords to sell single-family rental properties within seven years.
Speaker Mike Johnson said the bill addresses core concerns for American households. “Increased housing costs and lack of quality supply are two issues that impact nearly every American family,” Johnson said. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise echoed the sentiment, stating “This is something that every American in this country is going to be happy to see, to have lower housing costs.”
House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill aligned the proposal with the Trump administration’s housing priorities. “This bill prioritizes American families by expanding homeownership, enhancing affordability, reducing burdensome regulations that drive up costs, and increasing housing supply nationwide,” Hill said.
Political Support and Opposition
The White House confirmed backing for the measure following House amendments. “The White House supports the House’s housing bill thanks to the changes that were made,” a White House official said.
Polling data shows public alignment with the bill’s objectives, with seven in ten voters supporting restrictions on large investors purchasing additional residential properties. Despite the commanding vote margin, thirteen Republican members opposed the legislation, primarily Freedom Caucus-aligned representatives concerned about provisions addressing central bank digital currencies rather than housing measures.
Rep. Warren Davidson criticized the digital currency language in his opposition. “A temporary ban is the worst of both worlds: political cover today, a clear runway tomorrow,” Davidson wrote, calling for either a permanent prohibition or removal of the provision entirely.
Path Forward in Senate
The Senate now faces decisions on whether to accept the House amendments, renegotiate terms, or delay the package. Because the House modified the Senate’s earlier version, lawmakers in the upper chamber must act rather than simply pass the unchanged bill.
The removal of forced-sale requirements for existing institutional landlords represents the most significant point of contention. The legislation also must clear the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, a hurdle that frequently stalls bipartisan measures.
The lopsided House vote provides political momentum heading into the election cycle. Both parties face electoral incentives to address housing costs, a persistent concern for voters navigating high mortgage rates and limited inventory. Senate action timing could determine whether Congress achieves a housing policy victory before voters head to the polls.