Ten days after its transmission to the President for signature, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act at midnight on July 10, 2026, became law. It is the first major piece of housing legislation enacted in more than a decade–a significant first step towards improving housing programs across the country, which LeadingAge applauds and supports.

While President Trump declined to sign the legislation, congressional rules stipulate that if Congress is in session at the ten day mark, the bill automatically becomes law–even with the President’s endorsement.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act does not enact any new funding for housing programs; instead, it reforms and modernizes some housing rules.

LeadingAge welcomes the enacted improvements to the HOME program, the Community Development Block Grant (CDBP) program, disaster recovery activities, rural housing preservation, and much more.

The bill law also streamlines environmental review requirements and requires a reassessment of the applicability of recent Build America, Buy America requirements on housing programs.

LeadingAge worked closely with Congress to right-size bill provisions that would have hindered certain senior housing preservation transactions through the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), as well as to soften provisions restricting institutional investment in housing that could have impacted senior housing developments.

Overall, the bill is a much-needed step in the right direction of addressing the nation’s housing crisis. LeadingAge is eager to continue our work with lawmakers on senior housing improvements, including to increase investments in proven programs that stabilize housing for older adults with low incomes.

President Trump had previously cancelled his scheduled signing of the bill to bring attention to a separate legislative priority that had stalled, but the bill became law without his support. The President could have also chosen to veto the bill, which would have required a super-majority in Congress to override.