Congress Moves Closer to Bipartisan Housing Reform

Lawmakers from both parties work to address housing shortages and rising costs

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Republicans, Democrats, and the White House are collaborating on a comprehensive housing reform package aimed at increasing housing supply and stabilizing prices. The House and Senate bills share several provisions, including updating construction standards for manufactured housing, providing funding for pre-approved housing plans, and making it easier for state and local governments to reduce regulatory barriers. The legislation also includes measures to help consumers, such as streamlining the inspection process for landlords and making it easier for community banks to invest in affordable housing.

Why it matters

The housing shortage and rising costs have become a major concern for Americans, with estimates of the shortage ranging from 4.7 million to 7 million units. This bipartisan effort in Congress represents an acknowledgment of the problem and a commitment to taking concrete steps to address it, which could have significant impacts on home affordability and accessibility.

The details

The House and Senate bills include a range of provisions to boost housing supply and affordability. They would update HUD's construction standards for manufactured housing, provide funding for pre-approved housing plans to speed up approvals, and make it easier for state and local governments to reduce regulatory barriers. The legislation would also streamline the inspection process for landlords, provide incentives for them to accept tenants with rent vouchers, and make it easier for community banks to invest in affordable housing.

  • The House passed its version of the housing reform bill in early February 2026 with only 9 dissenting votes.
  • The Senate committee writing similar legislation approved it unanimously in 2025.

The players

Rep. Mike Flood

Republican from Nebraska and chairman of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee.

Emma Waters

Senior policy analyst at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver

Democratic representative from Missouri and member of the House Financial Services Committee.

Rep. John Rose

Republican representative from Tennessee and member of the housing subcommittee.

Rep. French Hill

Republican representative from Arkansas and chairman of the Financial Services Committee.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The House and Senate bills still need to be reconciled and passed by both chambers before going to the president's desk. There are some remaining disagreements, such as the extent of bank deregulation in the House bill, that will need to be resolved.

The takeaway

This bipartisan effort in Congress to address the housing shortage and rising costs represents a rare moment of cooperation in an otherwise polarized political environment. If successful, the legislation could provide much-needed relief to Americans struggling with housing affordability.