In This Issue
- Housing breakthrough: The Senate passes the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act with strong support.
- Election outlook: Join the March 25 All-GAD Call with Inside Elections’ Nathan Gonzales for a look at the 2026 political landscape.
- Compliance refresher: Register for RPAC & the Law on March 31; covering key compliance issues and common RPAC questions.
- CDA Grants Closed for 2026: 100% of Community Development Advocacy Grant funding has committed for 2026.
Key Dates
- March 25, 3 PM ET: All-GAD Call (Election Outlook)
- March 31, 3 PM ET: RPAC & The Law
- April 1: NAR Committee Application Process Opens
- April 8, 2 PM ET: FPC Academy (Appropriations 101)
- April 15, 2 PM ET: FPC Academy (RPR & NAR Research)
- April 29, 3 PM ET: All-GAD Call (Looking at Columbus)
- May 13, 2 PM ET: FPC Academy
Top Takeaways
Bipartisan Housing Bill Passes the Senate
Big Win. 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support.
Additional reference points for GADs:
Senate Vote: Passed 89-10-1 (Roll Call Vote)
FPC Engagement: 78 FPCs took action
NAR Coverage: Legislative Victory: Senate Moves Forward on Major Housing Supply Bill
CDA Grant Program Funding Fully Committed for 2026
Interest in the Community Development Advocacy (CDA) Grant Program has been strong this year, and funding is now fully committed ahead of the October 15 application deadline. Thank you to the many REALTOR® associations across the country leveraging CDA grants to advance housing supply, livable communities, and community development initiatives.
Questions? Contact Christine Windle.
Training & Events
All-GAD Call | March 25, 3 PM ET
Topic: Election Outlook
Speaker: Nathan Gonzales, Editor & Publisher, Inside Elections
Plus: NAR updates you won’t want to miss.
Missed a call?
2026 recaps will be posted in the GAD Hub group.
Office Hours & Trainings
- ✉️Aristotle 360 System Overview for PAC Managers (Semimonthly)
- 🔗Aristotle 360: Calls for Action Training (Monthly)
- 🔗Advocacy Everywhere Office Hours: Broker Involvement Program, CFAs, and REALTOR(R) Party Mobile Alerts
- 🔗Community Development Advocacy Planning Sessions (Weekly)
- 🔗RPAC Office Hours (Monthly)
2026 REALTORS®️ Legislative Meetings
All state and local advocacy association staff are invited to attend the following meetings at RLM:
- Sunday, June 14
- 1:00 – 2:00 PM: GAD Briefing on Federal Issues
- 6:30 – 8:30 PM: GAD Reception (RSVP Here)
- Monday, June 15
- 9:00 – 11:30 AM: New GAD Advocacy Orientation (Register Here)
- 1:30 – 2:30 PM: GAD Meeting
- 2:30 – 3:30 PM: State/Local Breakouts (Submit Discussion Topics)
A Bipartisan Breakthrough on Housing: How NAR Helped Lay the Groundwork
House passes major housing bill.
After years of advocacy groundwork, a bipartisan effort to tackle affordability and supply clears the House.
What to watch:
Recorded live at President’s Circle in Las Vegas, Shannon and Patrick unpack what’s in the bill — and whether Washington is finally betting big on housing.
Listen and subscribe where you get your other podcasts.
Compliance Corner
RPAC & the Law Webinar
What it is: An annual compliance refresher covering the basics of RPAC rules and common issues we’re seeing in the field.
Who should attend: Open to state and local association staff, as well as RPAC trustees.
When: Tuesday, March 31, 3 PM ET
Why attend: Whether you’re new to RPAC or a seasoned pro, this webinar is a helpful refresher on the dos and don’ts of RPAC compliance.
Questions? Contact Darby Thorne, Director of Political Compliance.
RPAC Updates
2026 RPAC Transmittal Deadlines
Add the deadlines to your calendar now.
Includes:
- Recommended transfer dates
- Mail timelines
- Processing timeframes
Corporate Ally Program Webform Now Available
What’s new: A new Corporate Ally Program (CAP) contribution webform is now live and allows CAP investments to be processed by credit card.
Where to find it: Available on the Invest page of the REALTOR® Party website or directly here: https://forms.rpac.realtor/fundraise/formid/corporate-ally-program/
What’s next: E-check processing for both CAP and RPAC forms will launch later this year, enabling direct debit.
Questions? Contact Michael Clark or Jennifer Hamilton.RPAC Hall of Fame Announcement
The 2026 RPAC Hall of Fame Ceremony will take place:
- June 15, 2026
- 5:30–7:30 PM
- Walter E. Washington Convention Center
The official Hall of Fame announcement will be distributed soon. More details to follow.
State and Local Goals Available in Aristotle 360
Now available: State and local RPAC fundraising goals have been uploaded into Aristotle 360.
Questions? Contact Carlyle Smith for assistance.
RPAC Office Hours
Your time to:
- Ask questions
- Connect with RPAC staff and Aristotle experts
- Leave with clear next steps
NAR Washington Report
- NAR Comments on Proposed Changes to Appraiser Qualifications
- HUD Proposes Changes to Assisted Housing Programs
- DOL Issues New Proposed Independent Contractor Rule
- NAR Supports Legal Challenge to Energy‑Efficiency Rules Affecting Property Owners
- USDA Tightens Rules for Rural Homebuyer Loan Program
- NAR Opposes Fair Housing Rollback
Resources & Research
Get Ready for Fair Housing Month
NAR offers a wide range of fair housing resources designed to educate and empower members. Invaluable toolkits and training, marketing materials and events, help your association promote fair housing, grow members’ businesses and build stronger communities. Explore the 2026 Fair Housing Month Toolkit.
Turning National Resources into Neighborhood Results
Real-world results prove agents who are REALTORS® aren’t just selling homes—they’re building stronger communities. From pocket parks to policy changes, to fair housing dialogues these investments deliver benefits that help strengthen property values, enhance quality of life and help forge lasting ties between NAR members and their communities. Discover what’s possible.
Questions? Christine Windle.
Research Tools
- Metro Market Statistics Dashboard
- Economist’s Outlook
- Residential Real Estate Snapshot
- Research Update
From the Chair
GAD Nation,
A fellow GAD made an observation about cars the other day that have distinct parallels to housing policy and affordability.
“I drive a 2025 Honda CRV Hybrid. Love it. Great car. It has all the bells and whistles and it’s relatively affordable. No disrespect to anyone driving a Lamborghini. But governments create a housing environment where only Lamborghinis can be built and then wonder why no one can afford them.”
It is a funny analogy, but it also captures the policy challenge perfectly.
Communities across the country often say they want more attainable housing. Yet the regulatory structure often makes it difficult to build anything except the most expensive options. If the rules only allow Lamborghinis, communities should not be surprised when more affordable models never make it onto the lot.
At the same time, we are educating members on advocacy, reinforcing the importance of RPAC, and working to keep housing conversations grounded in real solutions. Many elected officials are focused on the next vote, the next fundraiser, or the next campaign event, which can make it challenging to keep attention on the structural policies that address housing supply. ’Tis the season.
By March, the advocacy year is already hammering on the accelerator. Staying alert to obstacles ahead becomes critical.
That is where the GAD network becomes so valuable. We are constantly sharing ideas, trading tools, and helping each other stay sane while navigating the challenges that come with the job.
The GAD Facebook page continues to be one of the most active places for sharing ideas, tools, and real-time problem solving. That momentum is a reminder that some of the best solutions in advocacy come from collaboration.
Ask questions. Share tools. Compare notes.
Whether the policy conversation is about Lamborghinis or other models, the goal remains the same: helping communities create an environment where more housing options are possible for everyone.
Neeley Erickson
815.543.7147
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