Housing Affordability Institute’s State Legislatures and Housing Reform project monitors how state lawmakers are working to address their states’ housing challenges in 2025.

PROJECT

State Legislatures and Housing Reform 2025 Edition

Today’s housing affordability and access crises are from years of separate, but interconnected issues. As a nation and in major markets, housing has largely been underbuilt since the Great Recession. Contributing to the supply problem is that affordability for new housing has eroded over the past 15 years.  

State Legislatures and Housing Reform 2025 Edition

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More State Legislatures and Housing Reform in 2025 Content:

Arizona

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 13 – April 26, 2025
Status: Adjourned

Following a late session comeback, advocates in Arizona passed several reforms during the last session, but the Arizona Starter Home Act did not cross the finish line. At the 2024 Housing Leadership Summit, Jackson Moll of the Central Arizona Home Builders Association said their coalition was working to get this critical component of their effort passed in 2025.

Bills to Watch
  • HB 2317: This bill prohibits aesthetic mandates. (Failed to pass its first House Committee)
  • HB 2371: The Arizona Starter Home Act, the only major part of 2024’s agenda that did not get across the line in 2025, is back in 2025. (Passed two House Committees, awaiting floor, Passed the State Senate)

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California

Regular Session Dates: Dec. 2, 2024 – Sept. 12, 2025
Status: In Session

California got an early start with its 2025 Session, which began in December 2024. Housing reform has been a focus for this state for several years.

Bills to Watch
  • SB9: Clarifies a 2020 law to ban locally imposed ownership requirements all ADUs, not only those for new construction ADUs. (Passed Senate, In State Assembly Committee)
  • SB 688: Streamlines housing production of light touch density to help strengthen previous reforms. (Passed first committee hearing, placed on Suspense File)
  • AB 130: Budget bill that includes envornmental review reforms. (Signed into Law)
  • AB 253: Allows third-party building officials to handle permitting and inspections if a permit is not missed in 30 days. (Passed the House, awaiting Senate hearing)
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Colorado

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 8 – May 7, 2025
Status: Adjourned

Bills to Watch
  • SB 25-131: This bill addresses a growing concern across the county: Constrcution Decfect Claims. (Failed to Advance)
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Georgia

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 13 – April 3, 2025
Status: Adjourned

Bills to Watch
  • HB 812: A building code reform bill. (Introduced, not heard)
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Kentucky

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 7 – March 28, 2025
Status: Adjourned

Bills to Watch
  • SB 59: This bill streamlines approvals for faith based groups seeking to build housing on their land (Passed the Senate; stalled in House)
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Massachusetts

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 1 – Nov. 19, 2025
Status: In Session

BILLS TO WATCH

  • H 1572 / S 962:The centerpiece of the proposal includes several key changes aimed at promoting housing development. It would permit up to five homes by-right on lots with water and sewer access and three homes by-right on other lots. Minimum parking requirements for new residential developments would be removed, and a new process would allow property owners to subdivide their lots for new housing. The minimum lot size requirement would also be eliminated. Additionally, executive agencies would be required to identify greyfield sites suitable for redevelopment, while the disposition of state-owned land would prioritize affordable housing. Municipalities would face restrictions on adopting excessive septic regulations that hinder housing development. The plan would also clarify that accessory dwelling units (ADUs) can be built on the same lot as multi-family housing. (Introduced, not heard).
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Minnesota

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 14 – May 19, 2025
Status: Adjourned

After forming a large-scale coalition in 2024, systemic reforms were left undone for the fifth year in a row. At the 2024 Housing Leadership Summit, Sen. Lindsay Port (D) and Sen. Eric Lucero (R) committed to continuing to make housing reform a bipartisan issue in 2025.

In March, lawmakers announced a series of bills focused on encouraging administrative approval of more housing and addresses cost barriers. These bills quickly progressed in their chamber’s respective housing committees.

Bills to Watch
  • HF1987/SF2229: The Minnesota Starter Home Act focused on allowing small lot homes,
  • ADUs, and duplexes on vacant lots and new subdivisions. (Passed Housing Committees in both chambers, No Local Govt Hearing in the House, Failed in the Senate Local Govt Committee 5-6)
  •  HF2140/SF2231:The More Homes-Right Places Act focuses on light touch density in built-out communities. (Passed Housing Committee in Both Chambers, Not Heard in Other Committees)
  • HF2018/SF2286: The Transforming Mainstreet Act allows residential in commercial zones. (Passed Housing Committee in Both Chambers, Not Heard in Other Committees)
  • HF1309/SF1268: People Over Parking Act bans local parking mandates. (Passed Senate Housing Committee, Waiting Action in the House)
  • HF 2013: This bill included an aesthetic mandate prohibition included in two other bills. (Awaiting next House Committee, no action in the State Senate).
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New York

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 21 – June 29, 2025
Status: Adjourned

Gov. Kathy Hochul is one of several governors who has pushed for statewide reforms to be taken up by the legislative branch. Several years into this effort, it remains to be seen if 2025 will be the year the legislature answers the call.

Bills to Watch
  • S.3397/A.3647: New York’s “Faith-Based Affordable Housing Act” is the Empire State’s version of Yes in God’s Backyard and reduces barriers for faith based organization build needed housing on their land. (Did not receive a hearing in either chamber)
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North Carolina

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 8 – July 31, 2025
Status: Adjourned

Newly North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein made addressing the housing crisis a part of his platform during his campaign and has yet to announce how he aims to fix housing’s challenges in his first session.

Bills to Watch
  • H. 369: Parking reform bill banning parking mandates. (Passed the House, no action in the Senate).
  • H 625: Menu-style zoning reform. (Filed, no action)
  • S 495: ADU legalization statewide. (Filed, no action)
  • S 497: Expands missing middle housing in North Carolina. (Filed, no action)
  • S 736: This funding bills paves the way for by-right development of affordable housing. (Filed, no action)
  • H 764: The Local Gov. Development Regulations Omnibus Bill includes more than a dozen land use reform items, including:
    • Parking mandate bans
    • Bans on build dimensions.
    • 90-day shot clock on land use permits. (Filed, no action)
  • H 876: Development approval shot-clock with allowed third-party approval. (Filed, no action)
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Oregon

Regular Session Dates: Feb. 5 – June 29, 2025
Status: Adjourned

Bills to Watch
  • HB 2138: Expands missing middle housing placement. (Awaiting Governor’s signature)
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Texas

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 14 – June 2, 2025
Status: Adjourned

Advocates led by Texans for Reasonable Solutions have been working to lay the groundwork for reforms in the Lone Star State. The Texas Legislature holds regular sessions in odd-number years and reform-minded legislators and their supporters have spent the past year laying the groundwork for what they hope is an impactful session.

Bills to Watch
  • SB 840: Allowing housing in Commercial Zones. (Signed Into Law)
  • HB 878: This bill allows for small lot homes, 2,500 square feet and includes guardrails on bulk controls to ensure these lots are allowed. (Pending in Committee)
  • SB 15: Starter Homes and Townhomes are an allowed use. (Signed Into Law)
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Utah

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 21- March 7, 2025
Status: Adjourned

After having challenges getting reforms off the ground in 2024, land use and zoning reform is expected to be a central part of the housing conversation in Utah in 2025.  

Bills to Watch
  • S.B. 152: This bill would modify the state’s aesthetic mandate prohibition by banning garage mandates. (Failed to Pass)
  • H.B. 37: This bill focuses on light touch density, missing middle housing and starter homes. (Signed Into Law)
  • HB 175: Building code reforms for light touch density. (Signed Into Law)
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Vermont

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 8 – May 9, 2025
Status: Adjourned

After modernizing zoning and land use laws in 2023, Vermont is expected to continue to work through housing-related legislation in 2025.

Bills to Watch
  • HB 253: Creates workforce housing zones. (Passed first committee hearing but failed to proceed)
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Virginia

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 8 – Feb. 22, 2025
Status: Adjourned

Gov. Glen Youngkin has pushed for statewide action on housing throughout his time in office. In the last year of his single four-year term, this session is his last opportunity to push through reforms.

Bills to Watch
  • HB1832 / SB932: This bill allows ADUs in all residential zones statewide and restricts the permit fee to a maximum of $500. (Tabled in committee)
  • HB 2480: This bill prohibits municipalities from requiring a traffic study as a condition for approval of a rezoning application that involves either a single-family or multifamily residential use of fewer than 50 residential units. (Tabled in committee)
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Washington

Regular Session Dates: Jan. 13- April 27, 2025
Status: Adjourned

Bills to Watch
  • HB 1096: This bill streamlines lot splitting with the goal of encouraging start home production. (Signed Into Law)
  • SB 5184: This bill limits parking mandates to one space per two units in residential and one space per 1,000 square feet in commercial settings. (Signed Into Law)
  • SB 5511: Under a new law passed and signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson (D), cities in the State of Washington are not allowed to ban any exterior cladding allowed in the State Building Code. (Signed Into Law)
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