S.Amdt. 3503

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Scott of South Carolina, proposes adding DIVISION E, known as the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025 (or the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream to Housing Act of 2025), to bill S. 2296. Its purpose is to tackle housing supply shortages and affordability through the following changes and additions:

Increasing Housing Supply and Modernization

• Establishing guidelines for State and local zoning frameworks to cut regulatory barriers like lot size requirements and parking minimums.
• Creating an Innovation Fund and the Accelerating Home Building Act to provide grants for housing supply growth and the use of "pre-reviewed designs" to speed up construction.
• Launching pilot programs to convert vacant and abandoned buildings into housing and providing grants and loans for whole-home repairs regarding safety, accessibility, and energy efficiency.
• Expanding the definition of manufactured homes and creating a competitive grant program to improve infrastructure and safety in manufactured housing communities, prioritizing low- and moderate-income residents.
• Providing incentives for pro-housing policies near transit facilities.

Mortgage and Financial Improvements

• Updating loan limits for multifamily mortgage insurance and directing the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to report on lending for mortgages under $100,000.
• Updating FHA appraisal standards, introducing "State credentialed trainee appraisers," and creating a "Consumer Right to Reconsideration of Value" to challenge unsupported or discriminatory appraisals.
• Creating an Escrow Pilot Program for up to 5,000 families to save money based on income increases.
• Adding performance reviews and certification for housing counselors and providing counseling for borrowers with delinquent mortgage loans.

Rural, Veteran, and Homelessness Support

• Creating a Rural Community Development Initiative and increasing loan amounts for minor farm housing improvements.
• Establishing the Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program to restructure loans and renew rental assistance for multifamily projects in rural areas.
• Updating Rural Housing Vouchers with new review processes for income and family changes.
• Modifying the Continuum of Care Program and Emergency Solutions Grants Program, including increasing administrative cost caps and allowing remote video inspections in rural areas.
• Requiring the Uniform Residential Loan Application to include VA Home Loan eligibility disclaimers and excluding certain disability benefits from income calculations for veterans in supported housing.
• Adding up to 25 high-performing public housing agencies to a new Moving to Work (MTW) cohort focused on economic opportunity and independence.

Disaster Recovery Reform

• Establishing the Office of Disaster Management and Resiliency within HUD to coordinate response and recovery.
• Creating a Long-Term Disaster Recovery Fund and a formula-based CDBG Disaster Recovery Program, requiring 70% of funds to benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

Oversight, Accountability, and Coordination

• Requiring annual testimony before Congress from the Secretary of HUD and other top housing and mortgage officials.
• Mandating monthly reports on the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund capital ratio.
• Directing the GAO to study sustainable homeownership and a public appraisal database.
• Requiring HUD, USDA, and the VA to share research and data via a memorandum of understanding and streamlining joint environmental reviews and inspections.
• Adjusting Community Development Block Grant allocations based on a recipient's housing growth improvement rate.