Lawmakers float a housing 2.0 push to build faster and cheaper

Nearly three months after the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law, housing industry leaders are already huddling up to develop a sequel – a “ROAD 2.0” bill – meant to build on its success and momentum.Behind the scenes, lawmakers on Capitol Hill may be laying the groundwork. A 95-page document from the 40-member, bipartisan Build America Caucus, packed with proposals on housing, healthcare, energy, innovation, and transportation, offers an early look at the policies that follow-up housing bills could include.The document, first shared by Politico, focuses on three main housing policy avenues: expanding where housing can be built, reducing the cost and delay of building housing and improving access to capital for housing projects. While many of the policies would be implemented on a local level, the document outlines ways that the federal government can incentivize state and local governments to enact pro-housing reforms. Some of the ideas echo provisions left out of the final version of ROAD, while others would break new ground. Here’s a closer look at each of the three areas, and the specific proposals under them. Opening up more sites for housing development The housing a...