S.Amdt. 3777

SA 3777, submitted by Mr. Scott of South Carolina and Ms. Warren, proposes to add Division E, known as the "ROAD to Housing Act of 2025" (or "Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream to Housing Act of 2025"), to bill S. 2296.

The purpose of this amendment is to expand and reform the availability, production, and oversight of housing in the United States. It aims to change and add the following to the bill:

Increasing Housing Supply and Development

• Provides guidelines and best practices for State and local zoning frameworks to reduce regulatory barriers, such as parking minimums and lot size requirements.
• Establishes grant programs to boost construction, including the Innovation Fund for increasing local housing supply, the Accelerating Home Building Act for pre-reviewed construction designs, and the Build More Housing Near Transit Act to incentivize "pro-housing" policies near transit.
• Creates the RESIDE Act pilot program to convert vacant and abandoned buildings into attainable housing.
• Establishes the Whole-Home Repairs Act pilot program providing grants to homeowners and loans to landlords for accessibility, safety, and energy efficiency repairs.
• Creates a competitive grant program for the development and improvement of manufactured housing communities for low- and moderate-income residents.

Manufactured and Modular Housing

• Expands the definition of manufactured homes to include those without a permanent chassis.
• Modernizes loan limits for manufactured homes and accessory dwelling units.
• Directs the Secretary to review barriers to using modular home methods in FHA financing.

Mortgage and Appraisal Reforms

• Creates incentives for small dollar loan originators (loans up to $100,000) and directs the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to report on and potentially regulate loan originator compensation and limits on points and fees.
• Updates appraisal industry standards, including new education requirements for FHA appraisers and formal recognition of State credentialed trainee appraisers.
• Creates a process for consumers to request a "reconsideration of value" for inaccurate or discriminatory home appraisals.
• Requires the Uniform Residential Loan Application to include a disclaimer regarding VA Home Loan eligibility.

Program Reform and Community Support

• Reforms housing counseling and financial literacy programs, adding performance reviews for counselors and opportunities for delinquent borrowers to participate.
• Updates the Rental Assistance Demonstration program and simplifies inspection requirements for certain affordable housing units.
• Establishes an Escrow Expansion Pilot Program for families receiving section 8 or 9 assistance to save earned income increases in interest-bearing accounts.
• Reauthorizes the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, increasing administration resources and refining rules for "small-scale housing" (up to 4 units).
• Creates an "Economic Opportunity and Pathways to Independence Cohort" within the Moving to Work demonstration for up to 25 high-performing agencies.

Rural Housing and Disaster Recovery

• Reforms the Rural Housing Service by creating a permanent Housing Preservation and Revitalization Program for multifamily rental projects.
• Adds a Rural Community Development Initiative for technical assistance grants, increases loan amounts for minor farm housing improvements from $7,500 to $15,000, and creates a flexible process for adjusting rural housing vouchers.
• Establishes the Office of Disaster Management and Resiliency and a Long-Term Disaster Recovery Fund to coordinate and fund relief for catastrophic major disasters.

Homelessness and Veteran Support

• Increases administrative cost caps for Emergency Solutions Grants to 10 percent.
• Establishes a "Demonstration Authority" to partner healthcare organizations with housing providers and mandates a study on how low pay for frontline staff affects program effectiveness.
• Excludes certain disability benefits when determining income eligibility for supported housing programs for veterans.

Accountability, Oversight, and Coordination

• Mandates annual testimony before Congress from the HUD Secretary and other top housing officials.
• Implements new reporting requirements for the FHA and the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.
• Requires HUD, the USDA, and the VA to sign a memorandum of understanding to share research and data to reduce inefficiencies.