New Congress Brings New Opportunities

With the new year comes a new Congress and new opportunities to strengthen federal support for housing and zoning reform — APA's top policy priority for 2025.

From securing Year 2 of Pathways to Reducing Obstacles to Housing (PRO Housing) grants to increased support for the Yes In My Backyard (YIMBY) Act, building bipartisan support for housing and zoning reform was front and center for the previous Congress.

That bipartisan momentum has poised housing reform to remain a top priority for legislators — and APA — in the year ahead. As Congress reconvenes, housing stands out as an issue with bipartisan support. Here's what planners need to know.

A Second Chance for Housing Bills

Thanks to planning advocates and housing champions on both sides of the aisle, several APA-endorsed bills from the 118th Congress are expected to return to both the House and Senate early this year:

• Yes in My Backyard Act — Both the House and Senate versions of this bill had bipartisan support last session and were passed unanimously by the House Financial Services Committee. Introduced by Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA06) and Senator Todd Young (R-IN), this bill aims to eliminate discriminatory land use policies, making it easier for planners to close housing gaps and advance zoning reforms.
• Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Housing Act — Introduced by Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) and former Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) — now Sen. Blunt Rochester — this bill works to make the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) a better partner for local reform.
• ROAD to Housing Act — Introduced by Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Representative French Hill (R-AR-02) last session, this bill aims to introduce reforms across all segments of the housing market with a particular focus on manufactured housing. Both Sen. Scott and Rep. Hill will chair the committees responsible for housing in the new Congress which is a positive signal for housing action this session.
• Housing Supply and Innovation Frameworks Act — Introduced by Representative Mike Flood (R-NE-01) and Rep. Blunt Rochester (D-DE) in December, the goal of this bill is to develop frameworks and models for best practices on zoning and land-use policies.
• Reauthorization of PRO Housing — While the future of grant programs like PRO Housing is still unclear, a bill is expected to reauthorize the program this session. Planning advocates had a direct hand in making earlier rounds of this housing reform incentive program possible.

Several transportation bills are also expected to get a second life this session, including the Build More Housing Near Transit Act, a bill of Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) that encourages local governments to improve their housing policies through land use and zoning reforms that supported transit-oriented development.

Transportation reauthorization will set the stage for even more federal action in 2026, with many opportunities to improve the alignment between housing and transportation policy and investments.

First 100 Days

Tax debates will take center stage in the first 100 days of the Trump administration, presenting an opportunity for planners to make in-roads on housing, economic development, and infrastructure finance.

As the planning profession sits at the intersection of housing, infrastructure, and economic development, reforms to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act legislation that are set to expire this year — Opportunity Zones, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, the Neighborhood Home Investment Act, and tools for commercial to residential conversions — will impact the work of planners at the state and local levels.

What's Next?

With a new session, planners can continue to shape federal legislation, funding, tools, and resources that will support local, state, and regional planning efforts. As these opportunities develop, APA will continue to be your source for the latest in federal action, and what you can do to get involved.

Top image: Getty images E+ - drnadig