Washington, D.C. (July 29) — Late last week, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs introduced the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025, a sweeping bipartisan proposal aimed at addressing the nation’s housing crisis.

Set for committee consideration today, the bill aims to remove barriers to housing development through zoning and land use reforms, pre-approved housing designs, and incentives for pro-housing policies along transit corridors. The bill reflects many of Smart Growth America’s core priorities: reducing regulatory barriers, advancing zoning reform, promoting housing near transit, and ensuring communities of all sizes have the tools to support their needs.

“The U.S. is facing its greatest housing affordability crisis in generations. Federal leadership is essential to building more homes in the places people want them, financing them more effectively, and creating communities where everyone can thrive. By removing red tape and supporting new programs, this bill helps create the conditions needed for people to find a home in a place that works for them, at every stage of life.” –Beth Osborne, interim President and CEO, Smart Growth America

This bipartisan bill represents the most significant effort in decades for Congress to take a proactive role in shaping local land use policy. The ROAD to Housing Act of 2025 includes provisions to reduce red tape, deliver new tools and programs to support housing development, and help communities direct growth to well-connected areas.

“We applaud Chairman Scott, Ranking Member Warren, and the Senate Banking Committee for their historic leadership in taking on zoning and land use—issues that have long been neglected at the federal level,” Osborne added. “This is a critical signal that Congress recognizes the role it can play in helping states and communities support housing development that improves affordability and expands access to opportunity.”

While the bill’s future beyond committee consideration is still uncertain, Smart Growth America urges Congress to build on this momentum and advance policies that expand housing access and affordability, support connected communities, and meet the scale of the housing crisis with bold action.