Senate Banking Committee unanimously reports Road to Housing Act of 2025 after bipartisan markup

The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs ordered the Road to Housing Act of 2025 reported to the full Senate after a committee markup, the chair announced following a roll call that recorded 24 ayes and 0 nays. Chairman Scott praised the bipartisan effort and said the package represents a major step to increase housing supply and lower costs.

The package combines roughly 40 provisions, committee members said, including the Housing Supply Frameworks Act to give cities and states tools to update zoning and land-use policies, reforms to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster recovery program, the Whole Home Repairs Act to fund repairs and mitigate housing-related health hazards, appraisal modernization measures to address appraisal bias, and a HUD–USDA–VA interagency coordination provision. Ranking Member Warren described the bill as "the first bipartisan housing legislation to move through the banking committee in over a decade" and urged quick floor action in both chambers.

During the markup Senator Lummis offered Amendment 5, which would have required the Federal National Mortgage Association to consider certain recognized digital assets in mortgage risk assessments; she said the proposal was intended to "plant a seed" and withdrew the amendment for further discussion. The clerk then called the roll on ordering the bill; the transcript shows a roll call result of 24 ayes, 0 nays, after which the chair said, "The ayes have it" and ordered the bill reported. The committee also granted staff unanimous consent to make technical and conforming changes.

Members speaking after the vote framed the bill as a first step and noted outstanding concerns. Senator Reid said the bill's change to CDBG funding is a "carrot and a stick" approach—communities that do not increase housing could lose 10% of their CDBG allotments— and cautioned that some localities may need more time to meet the new standard. Senator Kennedy reiterated that federal funds should be used to incentivize local governments rather than impose zoning mandates, and he emphasized a proposal in the package to reallocate grant funds based on a five‑year comparison of housing production.

Other senators highlighted targeted provisions: Senator Warner lauded red‑tape reductions and the Reside Act’s potential to convert underused commercial properties into housing; Senator Warnock stressed appraisal bias reforms and called the shortage of nearly 7,000,000 homes a national crisis; Senator Haggerty welcomed manufacturing and modular housing reforms but warned against expanding federal oversight in certain grant programs; and Senator Smith urged continued work on mortgage access on tribal land, which was not included in the package.

The committee's action sends the consolidated package to the Senate floor, where leaders must decide timing and any further amendments. The chair allowed staff to make technical and conforming edits before transmittal. No further procedural steps or floor dates were stated in the transcript.