(KNOX) – The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan bill its supporters call “landmark legislation” that removes barriers to owning a home. Supporters say it will boost the nation’s housing supply and it will streamline federal housing programs. On Monday, the bipartisan bill titled the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed 85-5.
According to a press release, the legislation was negotiated over several months including leaders of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, the House Financial Services Committee, and the Trump administration. U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer, John Hoeven, and Amy Klobuchar all supported the bill.
The legislation includes two provisions Cramer authored. One of them aims at addressing an appraisal workforce shortage and another is intended to reduce inspection delays that can discourage landlords from participating in the Housing Choice Voucher program.
Supporters say the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will increase housing supply and reduce costs. It will reduce regulatory barriers, streamlining development approvals, expanding manufactured and modular housing, and converting underused buildings into housing.
Cramer’s office said North Dakota communities are experiencing an appraiser shortage that can delay home purchases. North Dakotans have seen an average wait time of 21 days for home appraisals, compared to a national average of six to nine days. The senator’s office also noted that more than two-thirds of appraisers are older than 51, while 13% are younger than 35.
Units financed through other federal housing programs could automatically satisfy voucher inspection requirements if they were inspected within the past year. Supporters say the change would reduce duplication and administrative burden, encourage more landlords to participate, and expand options for voucher holders.
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