Ending of the COVID-19-related eviction moratorium and making substantial investments in multiple types of housing are among the highlights of a bill with bipartisan agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are the only divided Legislature in the country, and I would write a different bill than the one you have before you,\u201d Rep. Alice Hausman<\/a> (DFL-St. Paul) told the House Housing Finance and Policy Committee at an informational hearing Monday. \u201cIt\u2019s not a perfect bill, but a negotiated bill between the House and the Senate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She sponsors SSHF4<\/a>, the omnibus housing finance and policy bill, which awaits action by the full House. A companion, SSSF16<\/a>, sponsored by Sen. Rich Draheim<\/a> (R-Madison Lake), awaits action by the Senate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have a lot of disappointment when we get to this point,\u201d Hausman said. \u201cThere have been other things I would have liked to accomplish that we didn\u2019t, and we\u2019ll work at it again for next year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Monetary numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The agreement calls for the issuance of $100 million in housing infrastructure bonds, which supporters say would boost efforts across a range of housing and strengthen local efforts to address housing needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The amount is to be reduced by any federal funds received from a federal infrastructure bill enacted before the end of 2021 for loans and grants for the same purposes bonds are issued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two-thirds of bond dollars would be unallocated, but $18.33 million would be to finance costs related to single-family housing and $15 million would go toward manufactured home park acquisition and infrastructure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [MORE<\/strong>: View the spreadsheet<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hausman said the House had a $30 million target; the Senate zero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, the $125.6 million bill includes $10 million in increased spending (all in fiscal year 2022):<\/p>\n\n\n\n Eviction moratorium off-ramp<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This bill would end the governor\u2019s executive orders that prevent evictions and lease terminations during the COVID-19 Peacetime Emergency and provide temporary provisions for tenants to avoid eviction and lease terminations in certain situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhile Governor Walz\u2019s eviction moratorium assuredly saved lives, our agreement to off-ramp the moratorium will save the livelihood of Minnesotans,\u201d Rep. Michael Howard<\/a> (DFL-Richfield) said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cMinnesotans who have fallen behind on their rent during the pandemic through no fault of their own will have strong protections in law as we prevent evictions while ensuring rental assistance flows to landlords.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A landlord would be prohibited from terminating or failing to renew a lease within 105 days of enactment, except in cases where the tenant is endangering others, engaging in certain criminal activities, materially violating the lease, or when the tenant requests the termination of the lease. A landlord would be able to end or not renew a lease 45 days after enactment if the tenant has failed to pay rent and is not eligible for the COVID-19 emergency rental assistance program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further, a landlord could not file an eviction within 105 days unless the tenant is a danger to others, there is significant property damage or they engage in criminal activity. However, if a tenant materially violates the lease, an eviction would be allowed 15 days after bill enactment. But an exception would exist whereby an eviction could be filed 75 days after enactment if the tenant has failed to pay rent and is not eligible for the COVID-19 emergency rental assistance program. If a tenant doesn\u2019t pay rent and refuses to apply for the COVID-19 rental assistance program or cooperate with completing the application, a landlord can proceed on an eviction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The agreement would also prohibit termination during the 105-day phase out of a residential rental agreement, delivering a default notice, or filing an eviction action on a tenant of a manufactured home park, except in cases where the tenant is endangering others, engaging in certain criminal activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the 105 days, landlords would be required to send a notice to renters for rent nonpayment 15 days prior to eviction. In addition, until June 1, 2022, renters with an outstanding rental assistance claim could not be evicted until after the application has been processed and funds distributed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A tenant would be responsible for rent or fees due during the peacetime emergency or phase out time period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n