Last week, the U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act by an overwhelming bipartisan margin. At first glance, that alone should inspire confidence. Housing affordability is one of the most pressing economic and social challenges in the country, and Congress rarely agrees on anything — let alone something this consequential.
And to be clear, much of this bill deserves praise. It tackles regulatory friction, modernizes manufactured housing rules, streamlines environmental reviews, and attempts — at long last — to confront the structural undersupply that has plagued U.S. housing markets for more than a decade.
But buried within this otherwise serious attempt at reform is a provision that should give policymakers, investors, and housing advoca
