Florida CARH News
FHFA Expands America’s Affordable Housing Supply in Rural and Underserved Communities; 2) Senate Passes FY 2026 Agriculture Appropriations Bill
On August 5, FHFA issued a Press Release entitled, Consistent with the One Big Beautiful Bill, U.S. Federal Housing Expands America’s Affordable Housing Supply in Rural and Underserved Communities.
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Unanimously Passes “ROAD to Housing Act” Bill – Rural Housing Provisions Included
On July 29, 2025, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, by a unanimous vote of 24-0, passed legislation titled the Renewing Opportunity in the American Dream to Housing Act (hereafter referred to as its short title, the “ROAD to Housing Act”).
USDA will Begin Accepting Applications for the Rural Energy for America Program on October 1, 2025
The grant application window for Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) will open on October 1, 2025.
USDA Seeks Applications for Funding to Help Rural Towns Strengthen Housing and Economic Development
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development invites applications for grants to provide strong rural communities the leadership and technical know-how to keep growing.
Congress Passes Sweeping Reform Bill with Key Housing Provisions
The newly signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act includes a permanent 12% increase to the 9% Housing Credit, reduced bond financing requirements, and new rural incentives through Opportunity Zones. Learn how these changes impact affordable housing in rural communities and what’s next for FY 2026 appropriations.
June 2025 Rural Development Housing News
HUD, budget, USDA updates and more featured in the June 2025 Rural Development Housing News blog.
House Narrowly Passes Budget Bill
The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed budget reconciliation tax legislation last week by a 215-214 vote. The bill includes key measures to expand affordable housing, extend the Opportunity Zones (OZ) incentive, and scale back certain clean energy tax credits. It now heads to the Senate.
Senators Tina Smith, Mike Rounds Reintroduce Bipartisan Rural Housing Legislation
On April 3, 2025, Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) issued a press release announcing that they reintroduced The Rural Housing Service Reform Act which would “improve federal rural housing programs, cut red tape, and strengthen the supply of affordable housing in small towns and rural communities.”
