Address land use barriers to housing construction by establishing non-binding zoning guidelines and best practices for states and localities.
Address land use barriers to housing construction by establishing non-binding zoning guidelines and best practices for states and localities.
Occurrences
The Housing Supply Frameworks Act would provide a new framework to assist states and localities in breaking down barriers and increasing the supply of affordable housing across income levels.
(b) GUIDELINES ON STATE AND LOCAL ZONING FRAMEWORKS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Assistant Secretary shall publish documents outlining guidelines and best practices to support production of adequate housing to meet the needs of communities and provide housing opportunities for individuals at every income level across communities with respect to— (A) State zoning frameworks; and (B) local zoning frameworks. ... The guidelines and best practices required under paragraph (1) shall— (A) with respect to State zoning frameworks, outline potential models for updated State enabling legislation or State agency and department procedures; (B) include recommendations regarding (i) the reduction or elimination of parking minimums; (ii) the increase in maximum floor area ratio requirements and maximum building heights and the reduction in minimum lot sizes and set-back requirements; (iii) the elimination of restrictions against accessory dwelling units; (iv) increasing by-right uses, including duplex, triplex, or quadplex buildings, across cities or metropolitan areas; (v) mechanisms, including proximity to transit, to determine the appropriate scope for rezoning and ensure development that does not disproportionately burden residents of economically distressed areas; (vi) provisions regarding ...
Evidence
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Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), the top Democrat on the Senate Housing Subcommittee, announced that two of her major bipartisan bills aimed at combatting America’s housing crisis were included in a package that passed unanimously (24 – 0) out of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Development Committee. The package of bills that passed the committee earlier today, the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025, represents the first comprehensive national legislation on housing since the 2008 financial crisis.
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U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), the top Democrat on the Senate Housing Subcommittee, announced that one of her major bipartisan bills aimed at combatting America’s housing crisis was included in a package that passed the Senate in an 89-10 vote. Senator Smith’s bipartisan Rural Housing Service Reform Act was included in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, the first comprehensive housing supply legislation in 30 years.
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U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, joined her colleagues on a bipartisan, bicameral bill to provide resources to help communities rehaul their zoning and land use regulations. The Housing Supply Frameworks Act would provide a new framework to assist states and localities in breaking down barriers and increasing the supply of affordable housing across income levels.
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Senator Tina Smith's bipartisan Rural Housing Service Reform Act was included in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which passed the Senate with significant bipartisan support.
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Senator Tina Smith's bipartisan housing legislation, including measures to address land use barriers, passed unanimously in the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Development Committee as part of the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025.
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Senator Tina Smith co-sponsored the Housing Supply Frameworks Act, aiming to assist states and localities in reforming zoning and land use regulations to increase affordable housing supply.
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The Housing Supply Frameworks Act mandates the Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research of the Department of Housing and Urban Development to publish guidelines and best practices to support the production of adequate housing, including recommendations for state and local zoning frameworks.
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The Housing Supply Frameworks Act requires the publication of guidelines and best practices to support the production of adequate housing, including recommendations for state and local zoning frameworks.
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Latest Action: Senate - 08/01/2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. The text includes Title II, section 203, the Housing Supply Frameworks Act, which directs publication of guidelines and best practices for state zoning and local zoning frameworks.
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Latest Action: House - 04/10/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services. Tracker: This bill has the status Introduced. The bill text directs HUD to publish guidelines and best practices for State zoning and local zoning frameworks.
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Public Law 119-101, approved July 11, 2026, includes Section 107, Housing Supply Frameworks. The section directs HUD's Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research to publish guidelines and best practices for state and local zoning frameworks within 3 years and provides that HUD may not take adverse action if a state or locality declines to adopt them.
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Senator Smith's office said the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law on July 11, 2026 after passing the House and Senate with veto-proof majorities. The release also said the package included bills Smith cosponsored and supported and that Smith pressed for presidential signature the prior week.
Assessments
Smith materially advanced the zoning-guidelines objective during her current Senate term by cosponsoring the Housing Supply Frameworks Act and supporting the ROAD to Housing Act package, which became Public Law 119-101 on July 11, 2026. The enacted law directs HUD to publish non-binding zoning guidelines and best practices and bars adverse action against states or localities that decline to adopt them. However, the promised guidelines themselves had not yet been published; the statute sets a future deadline of up to three years. That is substantial same-term progress, but not full delivery of the final promised outcome.
The evidence shows Tina Smith materially advanced the promised policy by co-sponsoring the Housing Supply Frameworks Act, which specifically would direct HUD to publish non-binding guidelines and best practices for state and local zoning frameworks. That language was included in the ROAD to Housing Act and passed Senate committee and later the Senate during her same federal Senate term. However, the record provided does not show final enactment into law or HUD publication of the guidelines, so the promised outcome was not fully delivered. This warrants partial credit for substantial same-term legislative advancement, with an effort badge.
Senator Tina Smith took multiple legislative actions aimed at addressing land use barriers to housing construction, including introducing and advancing bipartisan bills that encourage states and localities to reform zoning and land use regulations. These efforts included major provisions in the ROAD to Housing Act and the Housing Supply Frameworks Act, both of which sought to provide frameworks and resources for local reforms. However, while the legislation advanced and included relevant measures, there is no direct evidence that establishes the creation and nationwide adoption of non-binding zoning guidelines and best practices as promised. The efforts are substantial and bipartisan, but the outcome falls short of full delivery.