• Donald Trump will not sign a bipartisan housing bill, calling it "a big yawn" and protesting over a separate voter ID bill.
• The housing bill, known as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, aims to make homeownership more affordable.
• Even without Trump's signature, the legislation will become law shortly after Congress’s approval.
• It includes provisions to limit institutional home purchases and expedite housing development.
• Housing affordability is a critical issue, with median home prices significantly rising in recent years.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will not sign a bipartisan housing affordability bill, which he described as “a big yawn.” The refusal comes as a protest against the Senate’s inability to pass the SAVE America Act, a controversial voting legislation that requires proof of citizenship for voter registration. This particular housing bill, however, is notable for its bipartisan support, having passed both houses of Congress with overwhelming majority votes (SCMP, NPR, and Al Jazeera).

The legislation, officially called the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, aims to address the escalating issue of housing costs across the U.S. It includes several pivotal provisions, such as waiving environmental reviews for new construction and putting a cap on how many single-family homes major investors can purchase. This aims to enhance housing competitiveness for individual buyers and families amid rising market prices (NPR, and Al Jazeera).

Despite Trump's dismissal, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers express optimism regarding the bill's potential impact on housing affordability, emphasizing the urgency of action in light of current housing pressures. According to polls, a significant majority of Americans supports measures to restrict institutional homebuyers (NPR and Al Jazeera).

Even without Trump's signature, the housing bill will automatically become law at midnight after the legislative approval. The bill allows a 10-day period for the president to either sign or veto the legislation, and with the current political climate, it is not anticipated that Trump will issue a veto, which would be a rare move given the bipartisan nature of this bill (SCMP and Al Jazeera).