ND North News

The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee has advanced the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act of 2025. The legislation addresses affordable housing issues and includes two bipartisan provisions authored by Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) focused on addressing the appraisal workforce shortage and streamlining inspections for new landlords. The committee approved the bill unanimously, marking its first housing markup in more than ten years.

Senator Cramer commented on the importance of the bill for North Dakota and other states: “Like the rest of the country, North Dakota struggles to provide enough affordable housing to meet the demand that’s on our landlords,” he said. “I truly believe that a market-based solution exists and am grateful that Chairman Tim Scott prioritizes these solutions and that he held, if you can imagine this, the first housing markup on the Banking Committee in over a decade. It’s the first housing markup since I’ve been in the Senate. This bill is really a great example of collaborative, bipartisan work in the Senate. Both my Choice in Affordable Housing Act and my Appraisal Industry Improvement Act were ideas that actually came from stakeholders who want to do more for our communities, that includes landlords, that certainly includes advocates, and really includes the entire spectrum and value chain of the real estate business in North Dakota. My goal with these bills is simply to reduce the bureaucratic red tape by streamlining inspections for new landlords and then reforming the appraisal process to meet this the high demand.”

Rural areas have faced an appraiser shortage resulting in longer wait times for home appraisals. In North Dakota, average wait times reach 21 days compared to a national average of six to nine days. Senator Cramer introduced the Appraisal Industry Improvement Act earlier this year with Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), aiming to improve access through training and education without lowering appraisal quality.

The ROAD to Housing Act also incorporates parts of legislation co-authored by Senator Cramer and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) intended to reduce delays related to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development inspections. The provision allows units inspected under other federal programs within a year to meet voucher inspection requirements automatically. It also reduces duplicate processes for new landlords seeking pre-inspections, which may increase access for voucher holders.

Two additional bills supported by Senator Cramer were included in the markup: The Community Investment and Prosperity Act raises banks’ Public Welfare Investment cap from 15% to 20%, allowing more investment into affordable housing—a limit last raised by Congress as part of regulatory relief efforts in 2006—and is expected to help address ongoing supply issues.

The Rural Housing Service Reform Act—led by Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Tina Smith (D-MN)—aims to expand rural housing opportunities through loans, grants, and rental assistance. From 2010 to 2020, rural areas saw only a modest increase in available units, with nearly half of states experiencing declines. The act proposes reforms such as continuing Section 521 Rental Assistance after Section 515 mortgages mature so affordable units remain available even after USDA-backed loans are paid off.