2026 Policy Priorities
Planners are experts who work in the intersection of housing, transportation, economic development, and resilience. To help their communities tackle challenges and maximize opportunities, planners across the country are working together with state and local leaders and policymakers to turn innovation, data, and best practices into solutions.
With planners' guidance, states and localities have made great strides in reforming outdated zoning regulations and creating housing plans that expand affordability and spur housing production. But a nationwide housing crisis calls for comprehensive solutions at EVERY level of government.
Federal action is essential to support planners in expanding housing options, linking housing and transportation, strengthening community resilience, and partnering across local, state, and federal governments.
Planners are working to develop new solutions and accelerate approaches that spur housing production, increase affordability, expand options, and connect housing efforts with infrastructure and economic development.
To advance this work, APA calls on Congress and the Trump Administration to support planning-led zoning reforms through policy action, such as:
- Pass the ROAD to Housing Act and Housing for the 21st Century Act
- Renew key transportation programs
- Secure planning support in federal hazard and resilience programs
- Strengthen a predictable federal-local partnership
Read our full letter to Congress and share it with your Representatives
Housing
Planners inform housing policy, and Congress supports planning through policy and funding.
Planners provide data-driven insights and expertise that can help policymakers improve public policies and investments that create attainable and abundant housing. To advance local efforts, Congress can — and must — play an essential role in supporting housing planning through fiscal and policy changes.
With major housing legislation on the table in the ROAD to Housing Act and the Housing for the 21st Century Act, Congress has an opportunity to build on the current momentum to address our housing crisis.
The Next Evolution in Federal Housing Policy Should Include:
Passage of the Road to Housing Act and Housing for the 21st Century Act
These bills include components that:
- Strengthen local planning capacity and technical assistance
- Encourage zoning and land use reforms to expand housing supply
- Promote mixed-income and diverse housing types in all communities
- Improve data and housing needs assessment tools to inform decisions
- Support a range of housing typologies
- Expand federal funding tied to evidence-based planning outcomes
Predictable, secure funding for essential housing and community development programs
This includes support for Community Development Block Grants, HOME, homelessness assistance, and local housing planning and zoning reforms. In addition to funding, Congress should also continue efforts to evaluate and reauthorize key programs.
Promotion of housing innovation and technology
Congress has an opportunity to leverage tax code and program funding to accelerate the deployment of new housing technology and address barriers in areas such as commercial conversions, land trusts, and the "appraisal gap" for home repairs and upgrades.
Learn How Planners are Increasing Local Housing Supply
- Looking Back and Accelerating Forward: Increasing Abundance Through the Housing Supply Accelerator
- Modular Momentum: Boulder's New Approach to Housing
- Rapid Growth Overwhelmed Austin. These Housing Reforms Made a Difference.
- Climate-impacted Native Alaskan Towns Seek Solutions in Manufactured Housing
- Boise Increases Affordable Housing Stock through Zoning Reform
- Rural Communities Embrace ADUs to Boost Housing Supply
- Transforming Empty Churches Into Affordable Housing Takes More Than a Leap of Faith
- Spokane's Interim Housing Ordinance Allowed City to Do 'Some Great Things'
Transportation
2026 is the deadline to reauthorize federal surface transportation programs.
This provides an important opportunity to improve the impact of federal investments while also supporting a comprehensive approach to linking transportation, housing, and land use.
Transportation legislation is also an opportunity to advance key planning priorities regarding safety, transit, and transportation options and connectivity; regional economic development; and responsive, sustainable funding.
Congress should renew transportation programs to align planning, housing, and economic development.
Transportation reauthorization should increase investment in Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) and empower regional planning agencies to be hubs of analysis and innovation for communities working to connect housing, economic development, resilience, and transportation plans and projects. Federal policy should also encourage local planning for housing and mixed-use development associated with transportation projects.
Learn How Planners are Aligning Housing and Transportation
Resilience
Improved resilience and hazard mitigation
There is bipartisan support for reforming and supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Congress should enact pending legislation to strengthen the relationship with local communities and improve the effectiveness of federal programs, while maintaining a commitment and partnership on hazard mitigation and the overall resiliency of our infrastructure and housing stock.
Learn How Planners are Creating Resilient Communities
Federal Partnerships
A strong and predictable federal partnership
Federal investments can easily be undermined by poor coordination, uncertain rules, a lack of core agency capacity, and inadequate data.
Congress and the Administration can act to ensure that communities have clarity, certainty, and support in accessing federal programs.
Learn Why Planners Benefit From Federal Partnerships
A National Partnership for Zoning Reform
APA has partnered with the National League of Cities to advance solutions for housing supply challenges through the Housing Supply Accelerator.
Join the Housing Supply Accelerator Challenge
Bringing together local governments, planners, builders, financial institutions, housing policy associations, and state and federal partners, the partnership has developed a guide for policymakers and community planners working to boost diverse, attainable, and abundant housing supply in communities nationwide.
Tell Congress to Support Zoning Reform
Planners across the country are speaking out for federal support that will power local innovation — and you can, too!
Your outreach will ensure that every member of Congress knows federal action on zoning reform is community planners' top priority.
Want to Stay Up to Date on Federal Action?
Join APA's network of planning advocates, the Planners' Advocacy Network, to stay up to date on what is happening in Washington and the state capitols and help shape federal and state policy outcomes.