The State Affairs Newsletter
Welcome to the Latest issue of The State Affairs
NAHB hosted mayors, city planners, local elected officials and members during the America’s Housing Comeback workforce convening held in Orlando during the 2026 International Builders’ Show.
L to R: NAHB VP of State & Local Government Affairs Karl Eckhart with Economic Engine Award winner Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and HBA Utah Executive Officer Ross Ford.
NAHB Director of State and Local Government Affairs Lily Weatherby (pictured left), Johnson City Area Home Builders Association Executive Director Lisa Luster (pictured right) and builder members met with Tennessee Representative Renea Jones (District 4) at the HBA of Tennessee 2026 Hill Day.
L to R: HBA of Delaware (HBADE) Government Relations Co-Chair Richard Forsten, lobbyist Verity Watson, HBADE Government Relations Co-Chair Mike Riemann, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, HBADE President Jon Horner, and HBADE Executive Officer Katie Gillis.
New Hampshire HBA President Eric Jackson, NAHB State Rep. Rand Hinman, and New Hampshire HBA members presented Gov. Kelly Ayotte with the Defender of Housing Award this January.
2025 BIAW President Kent Arola, BIAW EVP Greg Lane, NAHB AVP Jeff Pemstein, and BIAW members and staff presented the Defender of Housing Award to Lt. Gov Denny Heck at the State Capitol in Olympia, Wash.
This issue highlights the fantastic America’s Housing Comeback convening in Orlando, the Defenders of Housing, big housing pushes in the 2026 sessions and new land use tools from NAHB. Thank you for checking out The State Affairs.
America's Housing Comeback
City leaders and planners share their thoughts on the recent workforce development convening.
Featured Articles in this Issue
Lawmakers are debating ways to streamline housing development. NAHB’s state and local team provides a round-up of legislative actions in statehouses across the country and gubernatorial actions taken to invest in future housing developments. Read more.
NAHB’s state and local team brought together mayors, city leaders, planners and builders to address workforce development challenges affecting housing affordability. The full-day event was part of the America’s Housing Comeback (AHC) discussion series, led by the National League of Cities (NLC) and the American Planning Association (APA). Read more.
An interview with Ryan Baker, president of RJ Companies and past president of the Indiana Home Builders Association, on the housing trends, drivers of housing cost and consumers. Read more.
In 2026, three elected officials have received awards from NAHB in recognition of their contributions to the residential construction industry. Read more.
NAHB’s legal team shares insights into the next chapter of the Sheetz v. County of El Dorado case. The case has major implications for home owners, builders and developers. Read more.
NAHB’s state and local team provides a list of new tools members and HBAs can use to advocate for housing, including an interactive map that shows zoning reform across the U.S. and an impact fee legislation map. Reports related to municipal revenue, cluster mailbox guidance and permitting are also available. Read more.
Wesley “Wess” Galyon, a longtime leader who served as president and CEO of the Wichita Area Builders Association (WABA) for 40 years, passed away on April 11. Read more.
