This is Queen Street Analytics' weekly digest of regulatory developments, legislative discussions and other government-related news related to residential and commercial construction as well as infrastructure and government initiatives and programs concerning housing and housing affordability. Once a week, we break down the most important updates in this space in under five minutes.

Dates: 2026-03-01 to 2026-03-07

📋 In This Week's Newsletter

• 🏛️ This Week's Congressional Calendar
• 🇺🇸 Federal Government News
• 📜 Legislative Updates
• 📚 What We're Reading This Week

This Week's Congressional Calendar

• House Hearing on Little Rock Housing Authority Failures: The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing titled "Broken Promises: Failures of the Little Rock Housing Authority and the Impact on Residents" at Central Arkansas Library System, Little Rock, AR, on March 13, 2026.

Federal Government News

HUD Proposes Work Requirement and Term Limit Flexibility for Public Housing and Voucher Programs

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a proposed rule to allow Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) and certain Multifamily Housing Owners the option to implement work requirements for work-eligible adults and term limits for non-elderly, non-disabled families participating in public housing or receiving HUD rental assistance. The proposal, published March 2, 2026, would expand local decision-making authority beyond current Moving to Work (MTW) demonstration sites. PHAs and Owners could set work requirements up to 40 hours weekly and term limits of at least two years, with individualized policy design within HUD statutory boundaries. The rule would require agencies to provide supportive services and implement hardship exemptions, and would mandate public notification and administrative plan modifications prior to policy adoption. HUD provided cost and benefit projections, with annualized aggregate costs estimated between $2.7 million and $55.3 million, and calculated potential increases in aggregate tenant income between $125 million and $501 million depending on adoption rates. The proposed rule is open for public comment by May 1, 2026.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Rescinds Fair Housing Home Loan Data System Regulation

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a final rule rescinding the Fair Housing Home Loan Data System regulation (12 CFR Part 27), effective April 3, 2026. The OCC determined the regulation obsolete and duplicative of requirements under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) and Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). National banks had been required to maintain home loan data for fair housing monitoring since 1979; however, OCC now primarily relies on HMDA and ECOA reporting for supervisory activities. The rescission is expected to reduce regulatory burden, especially for smaller non-HMDA reporting institutions, without decreasing available data for fair housing oversight. The decision follows stakeholder feedback, including comments in opposition, which OCC concluded would not affect its continued fair lending supervisory capacity.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

General Services Administration Consolidates Age Discrimination Rules

The General Services Administration (GSA) released a final rule migrating its Age Discrimination Act of 1975 regulations from the government-wide Federal Property Management Regulations (FPMR) to the General Services Property Management Regulation (GSPMR), effective March 6, 2026. The move implements Executive Orders 13777 and 13891 on regulatory reform and transparency, reviewing older rules and ensuring alignment with current agency organization. The change does not introduce new policy but restructures the placement of GSA's nondiscrimination rules for recipients of federal financial assistance. No amendments were made to underlying regulatory text or compliance mechanisms.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Commerce Finalizes Antidumping Finding: Algerian Steel Concrete Reinforcing Bar Sold at Less Than Fair Value

The Department of Commerce announced a final affirmative determination in the antidumping investigation of steel concrete reinforcing bar imports from Algeria. The review period covered April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025. Tosyali Iron Steel Industry Algeria SPA, the sole mandatory respondent, was found unresponsive and received a margin based on adverse facts available, resulting in a weighted-average dumping rate of 127.32%, which also applies to 'all other' producers and exporters. This action continues the suspension of liquidation for affected merchandise and requires cash deposits at the determined rate pending a final injury determination by the U.S. International Trade Commission.

Sources: www.federalregister.gov

Trump Administration Launches Ratepayer Protection Pledge for Data Centers

President Trump unveiled the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, a voluntary agreement signed by major technology and AI companies—including Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI—to cover the full costs of new power generation and infrastructure needed for expanding data centers. Under the pledge, these companies commit to financing associated grid upgrades, paying for power whether used or not, and investing in workforce development. The agreement includes provisions for companies to provide backup generation during emergencies and to coordinate with operators to strengthen grid resilience. Administration officials and signatory companies described the approach as market-driven and anticipated that excess generated electricity could be sold back to the grid, potentially benefiting ratepayers.

Sources: www.whitehouse.gov

Legislative Updates

INCREASE Housing Affordability Act (H.R. 537)

Mr. Magaziner was acknowledged as the first sponsor of H.R. 537, INCREASE Housing Affordability Act, for the purpose of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings. The bill’s primary policy focus is on taxation measures to support housing affordability.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025 (H.R. 398)

The House Geothermal Cost-Recovery Authority Act of 2025 was ordered to be reported by unanimous consent. The bill pertains to energy cost-recovery structures involving geothermal projects.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act (H.R. 952)

The House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered the Reversionary Interest Conveyance Act to be reported favorably without amendment. The bill relates to the conveyance of public lands and natural resources.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Apache County and Navajo County Conveyance Act of 2025 (H.R. 1829)

Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, the bill addresses land conveyance issues in Apache County and Navajo County, pending further Senate action.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Extension of Long-Term Leasing Authority for Wampanoag Tribe Lands (H.R. 681)

H.R. 681 amends the Act of August 9, 1955, to authorize leases up to 99 years for land in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation and other lands held in trust. The bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Indian Affairs.

Sources: www.congress.gov

Land Restriction Removal for Paducah, Kentucky (H.R. 1276)

The House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered H.R. 1276, a bill to remove restrictions from a parcel of land in Paducah, Kentucky, to be reported favorably without amendment.

Sources: www.congress.gov

What We're Reading This Week

• Canada's Housing Crisis Demands a Manufacturing Revolution: The Case for Modular and Prefabricated Construction: A report examines modular and prefabricated construction as solutions to Canada's pressing housing shortages.
• Reframing Residential Construction: How Dmitriy Pingasov Is Advancing Steel-Based Affordable Housing in Northeast Pennsylvania: Dmitriy Pingasov pioneers steel-based affordable housing projects in northeast Pennsylvania.
• Home-building robots could help fix the housing crisis: New robotics technology emerges in home construction as a potential response to housing affordability challenges.
• UK construction sector extends longest run of decline since global financial crisis, PMI shows: The UK construction sector's PMI indicates its longest period of decline since the 2008 financial crisis.
• E&E News: Interior move on solar projects could thaw Hill permitting talks: The Interior Department's actions on solar projects may prompt renewed discussions in Congress over permitting reform.

.