Legislators in both the U.S. Senate and House reintroduced the Housing Supply Frameworks Act.

U.S. Reps Mike Flood (R-Neb.) and Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.) introduced the bill in the House, and Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. 

Under the bill, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would be directed to develop zoning and land-use policy frameworks to serve as a starting point for states and localities interested in reforming outdated zoning and land-use policies, local laws, ordinances and regulations to spur more building and growth of housing. 

The legislation builds on the Standard State Zoning Enabling Act of the 1920s, offering a new framework for 21st-century housing needs.

With a shortage of between 4 million to 7 million homes across the country, the legislators said the bill would be critical for local and state governments to bolster their housing supplies.

The legislation is endorsed by over 140 housing advocacy organizations as well as the American Land Title Association (ALTA).

“Improving housing supply is vital to the health of our communities and the long-term strength of our economy,” ALTA CEO Diane Tomb said. “The Housing Supply Frameworks Act takes an innovative, community-driven approach to solving one of the nation’s most pressing issues. By reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers, this legislation can help spur responsible development, strengthen access to homeownership and restore the American Dream for countless families.”