At the beginning of 2025, Gov. Cox announced a plan to build 35,000 starter homes by 2028. He proposed a $185 million investment towards affordable housing to be a part of the budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which ended in June 2025. The money for the budget comes from state taxes, federal funds, public university tuition and highway tolls.
According to the Senior Advisor for Housing Strategy and Innovation, Steve Waldrip, about 6,500 starter homes have been built throughout the state over the last two years. However, additional infrastructure is needed to build more homes, including waste management plants, water lines and transportation upgrades.
During the 2026 legislative session, several bills have been introduced related to the construction of more homes. Rep. Calvin Roberts introduced House Bill 68, which would create the Division of Housing as a part of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity. Which, according to ABC4, would ensure that “current housing development employees can communicate and work together more effectively.”
Rep. Raymond Ward is proposing H.B 184, which would allow property owners to request to use their land for residential purposes even if the land would be otherwise too small. The request would be automatically approved if it is not denied within 30 days.
Author: Lainey Porter
Photo courtesy of Rick Bowmer, AP News
Editor: Hannah Clove
news@suunews.net
