Onetime emergency rental assistance aid for counties and Tribal governments established, claims administrator required to return unused funds, prior appropriation canceled, time period to correct delinquent rent temporarily extended, and money appropriated.

This bill creates a one-time emergency rental assistance fund for counties and Tribal governments in Minnesota to help low-income households facing financial hardship after August 31, 2025. The program would provide financial support for up to two months of prospective rent and utilities, as well as unpaid rent and utility bills and related fines, to households earning at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines who are at risk of eviction or homelessness. Counties and Tribal governments would receive funding based on population and geographic factors, with 95 percent of funds designated for direct assistance and 5 percent for fraud prevention and compliance monitoring. Local governments, cities, nonprofit organizations, or groups of jurisdictions could administer the assistance, and any unused funds must be returned to the state.