Sylvia Garcia (D-TX)
Affordable Housing Through Common-Sense Standards Act
A Democratic bill with 2 Democratic cosponsors · See all 2 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
This bill, titled the "Affordable Housing Through Common-Sense Standards Act," directs the Comptroller General of the United States to perform a specific study. The study must examine the potential costs and benefits of creating a Federal uniform residential building code. The report must be submitted to Congress no later than one year after the Act is enacted. Specifically, the study looks at whether such a code could impact construction approval times, costs, and housing quality.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +2
Does this make housing cost less?
The bill directs a study to potentially increase the quality and availability of affordable housing.
- Scored +1
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Potential improvements to affordable housing quality and availability could benefit low-income households.
- Scored +1
Would middle-income households be better off under this?
Potential reduction in construction costs could assist middle-class homebuyers.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this leave more decisions to the states?
A federal building code could potentially reduce the autonomy of local governments over construction standards.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Reduction in Construction Timelines: The study will examine if a federal code could reduce the time local governments need to approve new construction (Section 2, subsection 1).
-
Lower Construction Costs: The study will look into whether a uniform code could reduce the actual cost of residential construction in the United States (Section 2, subsection 2).
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Improved Housing Standards: The study intends to see if a federal code could increase the quality of both available and affordable residential housing (Section 2, subsection 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts identified: The provided text does not list any specific provisions that would result in negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people.
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 business owners be better off under this? — Construction businesses may benefit from streamlined, uniform building codes. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Potential improvements to affordable housing quality and availability could benefit low-income households. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Potential reduction in construction costs could assist middle-class homebuyers.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make housing cost less? — The bill directs a study to potentially increase the quality and availability of affordable housing.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The study aims to identify ways to reduce construction costs and timelines which could stimulate growth.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill explores establishing a Federal uniform residential building code. Does this leave more decisions to the states? — A federal building code could potentially reduce the autonomy of local governments over construction standards.
- 2/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/17/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 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.
Al GreenDemocrat · Texas
Eugene VindmanDemocrat · Virginia