Congress has approved a major housing bill that could have meaningful implications for residential construction, housing supply and the lumber and building materials industry.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed both chambers with strong bipartisan support. The goal of the legislation is to increase housing supply, improve affordability and reduce some of the delays that often slow down residential construction.

However, the bill is not law yet.

A signing ceremony had been expected, but President Trump canceled the event and has indicated he will hold off on signing the bill until lawmakers pass the unrelated SAVE America Act, which focuses on elections. For now, the housing bill is waiting on that final step.

Key Implications for Dealers

Housing supply remains a challenge in many parts of the country. When projects are delayed or costs climb, it affects everyone involved—builders, remodelers, dealers and homeowners alike.

This bill isn’t a silver bullet, but it includes several provisions intended to make it easier for communities to move projects forward. Among them:

• Streamlining certain environmental reviews for federally supported housing projects
• Helping state and local governments improve permitting, inspections and planning processes
• Encouraging the use of pre-approved housing designs, including ADUs, duplexes and townhomes
• Supporting zoning, land-use and permitting reforms to increase housing supply
• Preserving existing housing through repair and rehabilitation programs
• Expanding opportunities for manufactured, modular and off-site construction
• Giving communities more flexibility in how they use federal housing and development funds

For LBM dealers, the takeaway is simple: when more homes get built, repaired or upgraded, it drives activity across the supply chain. Policies that reduce delays and support construction ultimately matter to local yards, their builder customers and the communities they serve.

NLBMDA’s Role

NLBMDA has been actively involved in shaping this legislation for more than a year, working with congressional offices and coalition partners on housing supply provisions included in the final bill.

Dealers also played a direct role by meeting with lawmakers during NLBMDA’s 2026 Spring Meeting and Legislative Conference, taking part in more than 100 meetings on Capitol Hill.

Those conversations matter. Lawmakers rely on real-world input to understand how housing policy affects businesses, including independent lumber yards that support local building and remodeling activity.

What Comes Next

For now, the bill remains in limbo. Congress has passed it, but it still needs the President’s signature before it can take effect. President Trump has 10 days to sign or veto the legislation before it becomes law. If the bill remains unsigned, the bill will automatically become law 10 days after it is sent to the President.

BLD Connection will continue to follow developments and share updates as the situation evolves.