House Approves REINS Act to Limit Executive Overreach
In an important victory for NAHB and common-sense regulatory reform, the House today approved the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act of 2023.
This legislation would restore meaningful congressional oversight to regulatory rulemaking by requiring Congress to approve all federal agency regulations that have an annual economic impact of $100 million or more.
Prior to the House vote, NAHB sent a letter to House lawmakers urging support for this bill and deemed it a “key vote” because of its importance to the housing industry.
Without meaningful congressional oversight, poorly crafted rules often go into place and businesses are forced to divert precious resources to lengthy and uncertain legal challenges.
Under the REINS Act, if a federal agency proposes a major regulation, it would need to be approved by both the House and Senate before going into effect.
The bill would also grant Congress the authority to disapprove a “non-major rule” (defined as a regulation that would result in an annual effect on the economy of less than $100 million) through a joint resolution.
NAHB believes that placing more decision-making in the hands of Congress on major regulatory rules that impact millions of Americans and countless small businesses will reduce regulatory overreach by federal agencies. We will urge the Senate to introduce and advance companion legislation.
Latest from NAHBNow
Safety
Sep 03, 2026
Jobsite Safety is Falling Behind at Smaller Home Builders, But Can Improve
According to a new academic study, small residential construction firms account for a disproportionate number of annual construction fatalities, but opportunities exist to improve jobsite safety through more deliberate communication and safety buffers.
Legal
Sep 02, 2026
HUD Clarifies Filing Deadline for Fair Housing Design and Construction Claims
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued new guidance clarifying that Fair Housing Act (FHA) design and construction accessibility violations are discrete acts, not continuing violations. HUD now considers these claims to arise during the design and construction process and end when construction is complete.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Sep 02, 2026
House Price Appreciation by State and Metro Area in the Second Quarter of 2026
U.S. house prices continued to rise in the second quarter of 2026, with most states and metropolitan areas recording annual gains. Elevated borrowing costs and affordability constraints remained important headwinds, while limited housing supply continued to support prices in many markets, particularly across parts of the Midwest and Northeast.
Economics
Sep 01, 2026
Number of Open Construction Sector Positions Rising
The number of open positions in the construction sector increased in July per the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). The current level of open jobs is down from three years ago due to declines in construction activity, particularly in housing.
Economics
Sep 01, 2026
HBGI Q2 2026: Single-Family Construction Contracts Broadly While Multifamily Expands
Home building trends diverged across geographies in the second quarter of 2026. According to the Home Building Geography Index (HBGI), single-family construction declined in nearly all geographic categories, although the contraction eased in most markets from the first quarter.