Widespread U.S. Housing Ballot Wins; Two Key NAHB-Backed Defeats

Advocacy

Published Nov 11, 2026

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Although housing ballot measures fared well nationwide in the midterm elections, two NAHB-backed initiatives were defeated: one to streamline environmental reviews in California and another to address minimum lot sizes for single-family homes in Massachusetts.

California voters rejected Proposition 45. The measure would have expedited environmental reviews and legal challenges for infrastructure projects ranging from hospitals to housing designated “essential” and allowed developers to submit one project alternative for environmental review rather than several. NAHB’s State and Local Issues Fund contributed $20,000 to the campaign, and produced video ads promoting the measure.

Massachusetts voters narrowly defeated Question 7, which would have permitted single-family homes on residential lots as small as 5,000 square feet, subject to reasonable local rules governing certain aspects of the homes. NAHB and Massachusetts home builders strongly supported Question 7 because oversized lot requirements drive up home prices and suppress new single-family construction. The initiative had broad support in larger urban areas but was largely opposed in rural communities.

The State and Local Issues Fund provided $40,000 in two rounds in 2026: first to collect signatures to place the question on the Massachusetts ballot, then to support its passage. America Needs Housing also supported the measure with two ads.

From environmental reviews and lot sizes to housing bonds and property taxes, the 2026 ballot measures below cover many facets of housing development and homeownership nationwide, including housing and infrastructure funding, home buyer assistance, energy use and property tax changes.

Below is a quick summary of each measure:

Affordable Housing and Infrastructure Funding

California Proposition 1: The Veteran and Housing Assistance Programs Bond Measure would provide $11.25 billion in bond funding for the Multifamily Housing Program, the CalVet Home Loan Program and youth housing. The measure passed.

Hawaii Constitutional Amendment Question 2: This amendment would let the legislature authorize counties and municipalities to issue housing infrastructure growth bonds that are excluded from funded debt. The measure passed.

Rhode Island Question 2: The Housing Development Bond Measure would authorize $120 million in bonds to build and develop affordable housing projects. The measure passed.

Home Buyer Assistance

California Proposition 37: The Second Mortgage Homebuyer Program and Revenue Bond Initiative would provide $25 billion in bonds for second mortgage loans to qualified buyers of newly built homes. These fixed-rate loans could cover up to 17% of a qualifying new home's purchase price. The measure passed.

Energy Choice

Colorado Amendment 82: This amendment would create a right to buy and sell natural gas for cooking or heating in homes and businesses. The measure failed.

Taxes and Fees

Arizona 141: This measure would ban taxes or fees based on motor vehicle miles traveled, along with laws or rules that track or cap those miles without consent, with certain exceptions for interstate commercial vehicles and government-owned vehicles. The housing connection: In some areas, especially in the West, mileage-based charges act like impact fees on homes located far from population centers. The measure passed.

Florida Amendment 3: This amendment would revise homestead tax exemptions, property assessments and spending limits. The measure passed.

Louisiana Amendment 9: This amendment would increase the income cap for a special property tax assessment to $150,000. The measure passed.

Louisiana Amendment 1: This amendment would let surviving spouses make a one-time transfer of the disabled veteran homestead tax exemption. The measure passed.

Louisiana Amendment 2: This amendment would cap property tax rates at existing voter-approved maximums. The measure failed.

Louisiana Amendment 10: This amendment would create a tax exemption for rehabilitated property. The measure failed.

Louisiana Amendment 6: This amendment would create a property tax exemption for seniors. The measure passed.

North Carolina Property Tax Levy Limit Amendment HB 1089: This proposal would cap property tax levies. The measure passed.

Oklahoma State Question 847: This amendment would shrink the yearly increases in property values used to calculate taxes. The measure failed.

Tennessee Amendment 2: This measure would ban state property taxes. The measure passed.

Wyoming Homeowner’s Primary Residence Property Tax Exemption Initiative: This proposal would exempt a homeowner’s primary residence from property taxes. The measure failed.