Washington, DC — Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) has advanced the bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act through the House Financial Services Committee, marking a significant step toward passage. The legislation is designed to increase housing production and lower housing costs in Oregon and across the country. It is co-led by Representatives Bryan Steil (WI-01), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), and marks the fourth bipartisan bill Bynum has pushed through the committee since taking office.
“Housing has been a day-one priority for me,” said Bynum. “I’m proud that this bill to build more housing and lower costs is one step closer to becoming law. I’ll partner with anyone to get it done for Oregon’s Fifth, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver results for our small businesses.”
The legislation comes at a critical time for Oregon, which received an “F” in a recent national report on housing affordability and homebuilding, ranking 45th out of 50 states. Projections indicate the state needs to build more than 140,000 single-family homes by 2030 to meet demand. Nationwide, a shortage of nearly 5 million homes continues to strain affordability, with permitting delays and regulatory barriers cited as major causes.
The Accelerating Home Building Act addresses this crisis by supporting the use of pattern zoning, a growing practice in which communities adopt pre-approved, standardized home designs to streamline construction. These designs, known as pattern books, allow builders to bypass complex permitting processes, accelerating the pace of development and reducing costs for homebuyers.
The bill establishes a pilot grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund the creation of these pattern books. It prioritizes missing middle and infill housing projects and includes set-asides for rural communities. High-opportunity areas and localities actively reducing housing development barriers would also receive preference.
The legislation is also supported in the Senate by Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), and has drawn endorsements from housing experts and national organizations, including the American Planning Association, National Apartment Association, Smart Growth America, Congress for the New Urbanism, and the National Association of REALTORS.
“NAR is grateful that Representatives Janelle Bynum, Bryan Steil, Chris Pappas, and Brian Fitzpatrick introduced the bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act to help address the nation’s housing affordability crisis through streamlined construction approval processes,” said Shannon McGahn, NAR Chief Advocacy Officer and Executive Vice President. “Reducing
regulatory barriers and streamlining approval processes are essential steps toward addressing the housing shortage affecting communities across the country. We support this legislation as part of comprehensive efforts to increase housing supply and improve affordability.”
