BIA Advocacy Update

BIA and North Dakota Association of Builders leaders and staff attend National Association of Home Builders Spring Leadership & Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C.

June 9 -13, BIA leaders and staff joined others from around the state and nation at NAHB's conference in Washington, D.C. The days included national association business; including committee meetings, leadership council and board of directors meetings, as well as sessions where members were addressed by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin; Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner; Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte. 

NDAB members also went to Capitol Hill and met with U.S. Representative Julie Fedorchak and U.S. Senator John Hoeven, as well as staff from U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer's office. 

Opportunities like this allow us to share impacts firsthand with our lawmakers, ensuring they know how policies at the federal level impact their state and communities. 

Click here to view a video overview of the conference, where you may see a few familiar faces from the BIA and around North Dakota.

Some photo highlights are below. 

Above: NDAB and BIA leaders and staff on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.

Above: the NDAB contingency. 

Above: Meeting with U.S. Rep. Fedorchak.

Above: Meeting with U.S. Sen. Hoeven.

BIA member, Don Dabbert, Jr., runs for NAHB third vice chairman of the board

Don Dabbert, Jr. is running for third vice chairman of the board for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). He officially kicked off his campaign at the Spring Leadership Conference, where he met with area caucuses from across the country and addressed the Leadership Council. Don is the first member from North Dakota to run for a position at this level.

Don has been active at the local, state and national levels for more than 30 years. His leadership roles include serving as president of his local association and the state association, as well as National Area Chairman (NAC) for Area 10, NAC Moderator, BUILD-PAC Trustee and North Dakota State Representative at the national level.

If elected at the International Builders’ Show in February, Don will become NAHB’s Chairman of the Board in 2029. 

U.S. Senate passes major housing bill

One of the items discussed during the Association's meetings on Capitol Hill was the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a major bipartisan bill focused on addressing housing affordability and increasing supply.

At the time of the Association’s visit to Washington, D.C., the House had already passed a revised version of the bill that removed a provision requiring investors involved in build-to-rent housing to sell certain single-family homes after seven years. The Association encouraged the Senate to adopt similar changes, based on concerns that the requirement could disrupt housing supply, absorption rates and investment in the build-to-rent market.

On June 22, 2026, the Senate passed an amended version that included the removal of that provision as well. While the legislation will continue moving through the process before final passage, this bipartisan, bicameral collaboration highlights a shared recognition of the urgent need to expand affordable housing.

It works to achieve that through increasing housing supply by promoting zoning and land-use reforms, reducing regulatory barriers, and expanding support for affordable, rural, and multifamily housing.

North Dakota Primary local election results

The primary was on June 9. The following candidates were elected:

City of Fargo

Mayor: Josh Boschee

City Commission: Nikkie Gullickson and Chad Peterson

The city also passed the extension of the one-cent infrastructure sales tax.

City of West Fargo: 

Mayor: Eric Gjerdevig

City Commission: Tyler Erickson and Patti Stedman

City of Horace

City Council: Chad Chalmers and Ross Renner

We look forward to establishing relationships will all those newly elected and thank those departing their positions for their service to our region.