Contact Congress about S. 2416: Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act

Some state and local governments would have to file a housing policy plan every five years to keep getting certain federal grants. They would report whether they use, or plan to use, a list of zoning and permitting changes tied to housing supply. The bill does not require those changes and bars HUD from using the report to punish them.

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Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Latest action on S. 2416: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects local and state governments that receive the covered federal grants, because they would have to prepare and update these plans. Housing staff, planning offices, and local elected officials would likely do most of that work. Builders, housing advocates, and residents would feel the effects more indirectly, because the bill could shape local debate about zoning and permitting but does not require any actual rule changes.

Why this matters: Housing can be harder and more expensive to build when local rules block density or slow approvals. This bill tries to shine more light on those rules by making many grant recipients report them in the same format. That could help Congress, HUD, and the public see which policies are common and which places may be making housing harder to build. But the bill stops short of forcing any zoning change, so its real effect depends on whether local governments act on the information.

Key provisions in S. 2416

• Covered Community Development Block Grant recipients would have to file a standard land-use plan at least once every five years. The bill calls it a plan to track and reduce overly burdensome land-use policies.
• For each policy on the list, the recipient would have to answer three things. It must say whether it adopted the policy in the last five years, whether it plans to adopt and carry it out, and what benefits it expects.
• The bill gives a detailed list of zoning and land-use changes to report on. That list includes more multifamily housing, accessory dwelling units like backyard apartments, smaller lots, less required parking, and taller buildings.
• The bill also covers changes to the approval process. These include one-stop permitting, parallel permitting steps, and shorter permit timelines.
• Recipients could also report other higher-density zoning policies if they want to. The extra reporting is optional.

How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 2416

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about S. 2416

What is S. 2416?

Some state and local governments would have to file a housing policy plan every five years to keep getting certain federal grants. They would report whether they use, or plan to use, a list of zoning and permitting changes tied to housing supply. The bill does not require those changes and bars HUD from using the report to punish them.

How do I support or oppose S. 2416?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about S. 2416?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain S. 2416 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.