President Donald Trump has chosen not to sign a bipartisan housing bill, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, but will allow it to automatically become law without his signature. This decision comes after he abruptly canceled a signing ceremony on June 24, demanding that Congress prioritize the SAVE America Act, a voter identification bill. Trump has referred to the housing bill as "fine" but maintains that the voter ID legislation is a more critical priority, even calling its passage a "national emergency." He indicated he would rather not sign anything until the Save America Act is passed.
The housing bill, which passed the Senate 89-10 and the House 358-32, aims to reduce federal regulations, streamline environmental reviews, and speed up construction to increase housing supply and lower prices. It would also curb the influence of corporate landlords, offer funding to local governments for increased homebuilding, and provide new dollars for communities to convert abandoned infrastructure into housing. Additionally, it would expand financing for innovative housing, require new renter protections, and enhance programs to end homelessness.
Despite the housing bill's widespread support and the White House initially backing it, Trump's refusal to sign stems from his insistence on the voter ID legislation, which Democrats oppose and has failed repeatedly in the Senate. The housing bill will become law automatically because of a Constitutional provision allowing legislation to pass if the president neither signs nor vetoes it within 10 days while Congress is in session. The deadline for this housing bill is set for Saturday.
While the bill's delay will not immediately impact house prices, it could postpone new construction projects. Experts like Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, note that many provisions will take time to affect builder planning, so a delay in signing will further push back when consumers feel the impact of the legislation. The bill represents a significant effort to address rising cost-of-living concerns, a dominant issue heading into the November midterm elections.
