January 22, 2026

On September 4, 2025, United States Senators Mark R. Warner (D–VA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D–DE), Andy Kim (D–NJ), and Angela D. Alsobrooks (D–MD) introduced the “Yes in God’s Backyard Act” (S.2720) (the “Act”). The Act proposes a federal technical assistance and challenge grant framework intended to increase the supply of affordable rental housing by helping faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education, and local governments remove barriers to developing affordable rental housing on property owned by such organizations and institutions.

According to Senator Warner’s September 4, 2025 press release, the Act hopes to establish a technical assistance program and a challenge grant program tied to policies that reduce barriers to affordable rental housing production and preservation on eligible properties. As of September 4, 2025, the Senate referred the bill to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and the bill remains in introduced status.