House Passes Key Manufactured Housing Reforms

Tonight, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 6644, the Housing for the 21st Century Act by a vote of 390-9. This bipartisan legislation aims to expand supply, reduce costs, and open doors to homeownership for millions of Americans. MHI thanks its members who responded to our “Call for Action” and contacted their Representatives to help secure the passage of this important bill.

One of the most important housing supply provisions in the bill removes an outdated requirement that every manufactured home be built on a permanent steel chassis. This decades‑old mandate adds cost, limits design, and prevents modern manufactured homes from being placed in many communities. Eliminating this requirement will lower construction costs, increase design flexibility, and allow homes to fit seamlessly into more neighborhoods across the country, resulting in manufacturers being able to design homes to fit into a range of locations where affordable options are needed. HUD will be allowed to establish construction standards for manufactured homes built without a permanent chassis (HUD’s regulations for homes built on a permanent chassis will remain in place).

Rep. John Rose (TN-06), the sponsor of this provision, highlighted its importance in his remarks during bill consideration on the House floor. He said, “Manufactured housing is a great way to get more families into homes that they own. Rent prices continue to soar because demand for housing still far exceeds supply. By striking this outdated restriction on manufactured homes, my legislation will increase supply and ultimately help bring home prices down for everyone.”

The bill also reaffirms HUD as the nation’s primary regulator for overseeing the design and construction of manufactured housing. For more than 50 years, the federal building code (called the HUD Code) has ensured that manufactured homes meet strong, uniform national construction and safety requirements. Clear federal oversight ensures consistency, stability, and consumer confidence—while preserving affordability. H.R. 6644 strengthens this framework and helps avoid unnecessary and conflicting rules from other agencies that would drive up costs without improving safety.

Beyond these key changes, H.R. 6644 includes practical steps to expand financing options, especially for small‑dollar mortgages that are essential for manufactured homebuyers. The bill also encourages states and local governments to modernize outdated zoning and land‑use policies that often block manufactured housing.

MHI applauds the work done by leaders of the House Committee on Financial Services, Chairman French Hill (AR-02) and Ranking Member Maxine Waters (CA-43), and the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, Chairman Mike Flood (NE-01) and Ranking Member Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-05) in forming this critical housing package.

The bill now moves to the U.S. Senate, where the Senate Banking Committee has put forward its own bipartisan housing package that also includes the chassis removal provision. MHI will work with leaders in both chambers to advocate for retention of all of the manufactured housing provisions in the final package that is sent to the President’s desk for signature.

To learn more about this important bill read:

Original article from Manufactured Housing Institute.

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