Ritchie Torres (D-NY)
Point-Access Housing Guidelines Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Point-Access Housing Guidelines Act of 2025 directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to create Federal guidelines for point-access block buildings. These guidelines aim to provide model code language, best practices, and technical guidance to various government levels to help facilitate the permitting of these structures. The Secretary must consider factors such as fire safety, construction costs, and housing affordability when developing these guidelines. Additionally, the Secretary is tasked with coordinating with the International Code Council. The bill also allows for competitive grants to support pilot projects that test the safety and cost-effectiveness of these buildings.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +6
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill specifically directs the Secretary to consider impacts on housing affordability and increasing supply.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The focus on housing affordability and increased supply can benefit low-income individuals.
- Scored +4
Would people in cities be better off under this?
Point-access block buildings are often a solution for increasing density in high-cost urban jurisdictions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Housing Affordability: The Secretary is required to consider construction costs and the potential for increasing the housing supply in high-cost areas (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Improved Accessibility and Variety: The guidelines must consider flexibility for diverse consumer needs, such as unit configurations and accessibility (Section 2(b)(3)).
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Safety Validation: The Secretary may award grants to entities to implement pilot projects that evaluate and validate the safety and feasibility of these buildings (Section 2(d)).
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Standardization: The Secretary will coordinate with the International Code Council to encourage incorporating these provisions into the International Building Code (Section 2(c)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Safety Risks: The bill notes the need to consider fire safety issues such as sprinkler coverage, smoke detection, ventilation, and building egress performance (Section 2(b)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The focus on housing affordability and increased supply can benefit low-income individuals. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Point-access block buildings are often a solution for increasing density in high-cost urban jurisdictions. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Increased housing supply can help moderate rising housing costs for middle-income families. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Increased housing supply may help young adults facing high housing costs.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill specifically directs the Secretary to consider impacts on housing affordability and increasing supply. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Increasing the housing supply can help mitigate housing costs that impact poverty levels.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill aims to increase housing supply which can stimulate construction activity and related jobs. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — By standardizing building codes for point-access blocks, the bill may lower barriers for developers.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill provides a framework for residential building guidelines that could be applied to various jurisdictions.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The creation of federal guidelines provides a standardized framework for local governments to follow.
- 3/18/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/12/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/1/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ami BeraDemocrat · California
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Scott PetersDemocrat · California