Congress pushes states to tear down zoning walls—but won't force it
H.R. 2840 — Housing Supply Frameworks Act · Filed by Mike Flood (R-NE) · 25 cosponsors · Introduced Apr 10, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to publish guidelines and best practices for state and local zoning reforms aimed at increasing housing supply, including recommendations to reduce parking minimums, allow more housing types by-right, streamline approval processes, and preserve affordability. It establishes a task force with developers, advocates, and community members to shape these guidelines, requires HUD to report on adoption within 5 years, and repeals an older regulatory clearinghouse, with $3 million authorized annually through 2030.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is establishing federal guidelines and best practices for state/local zoning reform to increase housing supply. It is primarily a policy-guidance and coordination mechanism, not a direct mandate or appropriation.
What the text implies
- Guidelines may create pressure on states/localities to adopt reforms tied to federal discretionary grant eligibility, effectively leveraging federal funding to influence local land-use decisions traditionally reserved to states.
- The state zoning appeals process model could override local democratic processes by allowing developers to appeal local rejections to state bodies, shifting power from communities to state-level review.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
multifamily residential real estate investment trusts (REITs); housing developers and builders; manufactured and modular housing producers