Accomplishments from NAA’s annual advocacy conference and Lobby Day.

In March, more than 800 rental housing professionals helped the industry advance real, sustainable housing policy solutions at NAA’s annual advocacy conference and Lobby Day, Advocate. Comprehensive tax legislation – preserving, enacting and protecting critical provisions to housing affordability and the industry’s long-term viability – headlined advocates’ asks of Congress. Additionally, industry professionals asked lawmakers to advance the bipartisan and bicameral Respect State Housing Laws Act, which would eliminate any ambiguity that the federal CARES Act’s Notice to Vacate requirement ended in 2020.  

“It’s important to have the one-on-one time—our legislators from our districts want to hear from us,” said Andie Smith, Senior Asset Manager with Pacific Urban Investors. “They want to hear what issues are impacting Oregonians and how they can best support us at the federal level to support our housing initiatives that Governor Kotek has pushed out as well. So being out here is getting that voice and meeting them where they work.”  

Advocate: By the Numbers  

• 800+ total attendees  
• 224 first-time attendees  
• 270+ Congressional meetings on Lobby Day  
• 2 new Senate co-sponsors for the Respect State Housing Laws Act  
• 8 new House co-sponsors, including one Democrat for the Respect State Housing Laws Act  

Tangible Impact  

Throughout the halls of Congress, industry advocates focused on making a real difference. “When we meet with the Congressional members, we can always say that we talked locally and that we need their support to be able to talk to our local constituents on our local County/City Council so that it can support the issues that we’re talking about,” said Dennis Watts, Regional Property Manager with The Yarco Companies and Immediate Past President of the Missouri Apartment Association, referring to advocacy done with local lawmakers.  

“We’ve already talked to a few people who have asked, ‘Could you please send us some additional information on what you’re talking about so that we can follow up?’” said Watts. “We’ve also offered the opportunity: ‘If there are issues that you do not have the expertise on, please reach out to us so that we can provide you some of our NAA and local grassroots efforts of what we’re doing to be able to support the initiative.’”  

Attendees advocating through grassroots movements helps to inform members of Congress about the rental housing industry and the bills, which could potentially impact the profession. “Education is very important, but if we don’t pay attention to the laws that regulate our industry, we won’t have individuals to educate,” said Amy Bertrand, Director of Training & Development with Stratum PM.  

Regulatory Wins  

Since January, NAA – alongside real estate industry coalition partners – has secured critical wins for the rental housing industry outside of Congress and across federal agencies. As always, bolstering housing affordability and lowering costs remain the focus of NAA’s advocacy. 

Key wins to-date include:  

• FHFA Rescinds Duplicative Landlord-Tenant Requirements: The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) rescinded its directive imposing three new federally mandated landlord-tenant requirements on covered multifamily housing financed through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) which would have required changes to millions of leases.  
• Momentum for Housing on Federal Lands: In March, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum announced the Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing. The Task Force aims to find federal land vacancies that can be used for new affordable housing units, assisting with land transfer operations, streamlining regulations and increasing awareness for the urgent need for more housing.  
• HUD Rescinds Rules: HUD terminated the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rule. In December 2024 – under the Biden Administration – the Agency also rescinded a proposed rule on criminal screening. Under the Trump Administration, the Agency has removed many guidance documents and notices related to rental housing. NAA continues to monitor closely for rulemakings to be formally withdrawn and removed from the Federal Register.  
• BOI Scope Dramatically Limited: The Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) pause on reporting enforcement for U.S. companies has been made permanent with FinCEN’s issuance of an interim final rule taking effect on March 26, 2025. The interim final rule dramatically reduces the rule’s scope of what BOI is subject to disclosure.  
• Revisiting “Waters of the United States”: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) to review the definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to align it with the Supreme Court’s finding in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. An appropriately scoped revision to the WOTUS definition would provide much needed clarity and regulatory relief for developers across the country as they work to meet the nation’s rental housing needs. 
• FCC Withdraws Bulk Billing Ban: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr withdrew a Biden-era proposal from circulation that would have banned broadband bulk billing arrangements between property owners and internet service providers, including jeopardizing existing contracts. The Commission’s move ensures that residents can continue to benefit from economies of scale, decreased costs and increased access to high quality internet services in rental communities.
• Efficiency Standards Postponed: The Department of Energy (DOE) announced actions to postpone mandated efficiency standards for home appliances, including air conditioners, washers and dryers and water heaters. 
• FTC Removes Confusing Blog Guidance: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) removed 300 blog postings from its website, including business guidance by blog which made it difficult for the rental housing industry to understand changes to their federal compliance responsibilities. Blog entries, such as “Price fixing by algorithm is still price fixing” and “Becoming a gold star property manager: Lessons from the FTC’s case against Greystar,” circumvent the established rulemaking process under the Administrative Procedure Act and do not allow the public to comment as FTC imposed new standards. Using its blog, the FTC has reinterpreted or expanded its authority under existing laws.  

Read About the Latest Regulatory Wins

Continue Engagement  

• Advocacy doesn’t stop after Advocate – it’s an ongoing endeavor. Check out these resources to further industry engagement and involvement.  
• Advocacy & Legal Webinar – exclusively for members and affiliate partners, NAA’s monthly Advocacy & Legal Webinar (ALW) tracks the latest legislative, regulatory and legal news from across the country. Learn more and register at naahq.org/webinars. 
• Apartment Advocate – stay connected with the latest in housing politics, from key legislative and regulatory updates to important advocacy wins with NAA’s flagship advocacy newsletter, the Apartment Advocate. Read more at naahq.org/apartment-advocate.  

Learn More About How You Can Engage

Zach Quimby is Public Affairs Director for NAA.