According to a tip emailed to MHProNews: “the Senate has jammed through Tim Scott’s ROAD to Housing Act under cover of darkness.” Various checks confirmed some key aspects of the tip. The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO.org) said: “October 10, 2025 — Last night, the Senate passed the “Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream (ROAD) to Housing Act, as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The ROAD to Housing Act became the first housing package to advance out of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee in over a decade. NAHRO congratulates the bipartisan efforts of the committee’s leadership, Chair Tim Scott (R-SC) and Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in securing it in the Senate’s “Must-Pass” NDAA.” A relevant part of a 10.10.2025 press release from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) is provided below. The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) is on record supporting the bill, but only if key changes are made in the legislation. MHARR’s White Paper Analysis of the bill is provided at this link here. According to Google’s AI powered preview: “As of October 2025, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) website does not publicly state that the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025 was attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). MHI published a statement supporting the Act in July 2025 after it passed the Senate Banking Committee, but this statement did not mention the NDAA.” A check by MHProNews of the MHI website on 10.11.2025 revealed no public-facing information on the reported attachment of the ROAD to Housing Act to the Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). That apparent failure of MHI to mention what other national trade groups are reporting runs counter to their news-landing statement: “The latest news to give you a full perspective on the manufactured housing industry…we help you keep abreast of what’s happening in every aspect of the industry.”
The National Association of REALTORS® Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer Shannon McGahn issued the following statement after the United States Senate passed the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream to Housing Act of 2025 (ROAD to Housing Act) as part of its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):
“NAR applauds the Senate for passing this bipartisan legislation that addresses housing supply, affordability and homeownership pathways. At a time when homeownership increasingly feels out of reach, this legislation offers meaningful, pragmatic solutions to restore opportunity for millions of American families. We commend Chair Senator Tim Scott and Ranking Member Senator Elizabeth Warren for their bipartisan leadership on this critical issue. We look forward to working with Congress and the administration to enact this vital legislation and help preserve the American dream of homeownership for future generations.”
The Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs previously passed the ROAD to Housing Act unanimously. Senators Scott and Warren offered an amendment to include the bill in the NDAA.
A check of the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) website has no public-facing mention of this development.
The Road to Housing Act was attached as a rider to the National Defense Authorization Act – did it include MHARR recommended amendments?
As of October 2025, the version of the Road to Housing Act attached to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes a MHARR-supported amendment to eliminate the permanent steel chassis requirement for some manufactured homes. However, it does not include other key amendments that the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) had recommended to Congress.
MHARR amendments included in the Act
The bill that passed the Senate and was attached to the NDAA addresses one of MHARR’s top priorities related to manufactured housing:
Voluntary off-chassis option: Section 301, the Housing Supply Expansion Act, would eliminate the federal requirement that all Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Code manufactured homes be built on a permanent steel chassis. This change:
Creates a voluntary, state-by-state process for allowing “off-chassis” manufactured homes.
Could lower the cost of each home by thousands of dollars and allow for more flexible floor plans, including multi-story designs.
Requires a legislative fix because only Congress, not HUD, can change the definition of a manufactured home.
MHARR amendments not included in the Act
The current version of the Road to Housing Act does not include other significant amendments MHARR proposed in communications to Congress on September 2, 2025. The amendments not included would have:
Mandated DTS financing: Required Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to implement Duty to Serve (DTS) provisions for manufactured home personal property (chattel) loans, making it a mandatory directive.
Strengthened federal preemption: Forced HUD to fully enforce federal preemption under the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 to “prevent, prohibit and remedy the zoning exclusion [of] or discriminatory restrictions on the placement of manufactured homes”.
Bill status and next steps
The Senate passed the Road to Housing Act as an amendment to its NDAA bill on October 10, 2025. The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Part II. More Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) plus more MHProNews commentary
Both Copilot and Gemini have done a facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) check of the first report on MHLivingNews and on the mainstream Patch and on the Masthead. Dig into the above and includes a focused and specific call to action. Whether 1 or 1 million people (or any other number) respond that that call to action, time will tell. But whatever happens, we at MHProNews/MHLivingNews can look ourselves in the mirror and know that we did our part to protect our rights, your rights, and the rights of all in America over the special interests that are pushing for a bill that is serious need of amending.
Among the topics on MHLivingNews, the Masthead and the mainstream Patch (a follow up is planned for tomorrow) are articles related to the facts, reasoning, and need to amend or remove the ROAD to Housing Act 2025 from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the sake of a brighter future of manufactured housing and for all the millions who need more affordable homes.
Look at the postscript for this report. Don’t miss it.
With no further adieu, here are the headlines for the week in review from 10.5.2025 to this report today, 10.12.2025.
Note: all third-party views are their own. MHProNews presents thought-provoking items to get the mental juices flowing. Connor’s columns weave potent quotes with a unique blend of thoughtful comments and analysis, but they are his views.
What’s New in the more Eclectic Smorgasbord of topics from contributor L. A. “Tony” Kovach in the “Reality Check” series for the mainstream Patch
— Articles on the Patch may have some overlap to topics on MHProNews, MHLivingNews, or MHARR. But each has unique content, even if there may be some overlap. Patch articles tend to be shorter. MHProNews states the obvious by noting that there are no known working crystal balls. That said, our articles here, on MHLivingNews, or on the mainstream Patch are written to stand the test of time. The Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) approach produces more reliable reporting. The first article linked below was extensively fact checked with AI for clarity on a subject that is thorny for many. ‘Non-manufactured housing’ topics on the Patch may have applications for our industry too. —
It was not so long ago that the “Inflation Reduction Act” was passed, and increased inflation. Remember that bill?
It was some years earlier, but ObamaCare was supposed to save America on healthcare costs, and you could keep your plan and doctor. Remember that bill? It worked out about as well as the Inflation Reduction Act did. Democrats are currently trying to force more money into healthcare, perhaps hoping voters won’t make the connection between the failed promises of 15 years ago.
Dodd-Frank was supposed to protect us from “Too Big to Fail.” Banks are bigger than ever, and thousands of smaller financial institutions were forced to merge or close in the wake of Dodd-Frank.
The point is simple. There are examples in the 21st century that millions of adults can remember where promises were made and then not kept when it came to legislation.
That’s what is all but guaranteed to happen if the ROAD to Housing Act passes through on the NDAA, unless it is amended as MHARR has called for at this link here. If amended as MHARR suggests, then the ROAD bill can help. If not amended, it should be stripped from the NDAA and sidelined until it is fixed.
If MHI can’t muster the gumption to publicly and loudly call to fix this legislation, let it never be claimed again with a straight face that MHI is working for “all segments” of the manufactured home industry. If the unamended ROAD to Housing Act 2025 act passes, it could keep manufactured housing underperforming for years to come. That’s not what MHI claims to be working for is it?
This is arguably more of an acid test than the acid test was. It looks like an end around that MHI is clearly involved in, because they supported the public publicly ‘as is.’
Programming notice. Tomorrow the working plan is to cover a shakeup at a well-known manufactured housing operation.
Readers like you helped MHProNews, see updated disclosures, finish well ahead of all others in manufactured housing in September 2025. It was arguably a “God thing.” Can lightning strike twice? Time will tell.
SPECIAL NOTICE. The new Masthead FEA editorial is available for re-publication in full (i.e., without alteration or substantive modification) without further permission and with proper attribution and link back to MHProNews. The HTML for this article is linked here. Download that PDF, open it in MS WORD and then cut and paste it into most website’s publishing back end to save time and effort.
Do your part to spread the word on the problem with letting the NDAA pass without amending or removing the ROAD to Housing Act 2025. See the MHLivingNews article here and the Masthead here, ICYMI.
Our son has grown quite a bit since this 12.2019 photo. All on Capitol Hill were welcoming and interested in our manufactured housing industry related concerns. But Congressman Al Green’s office was tremendous in their hospitality. Our son’s hand is on a package that included the Constitution of the United States, bottled water, and other goodies.
Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.
For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.
This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.
