SF 2745

Introduction - 94th Legislature (2025 - 2026)

Posted on 03/21/2025 09:55 a.m.

A bill for an act
relating to housing; establishing a regional housing navigator program;
appropriating money for regional housing navigators; establishing the housing
choice voucher account; transferring money to the housing choice voucher account;
requiring reports; requiring the commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency to
identify recommendations for improvements to affordable housing rental voucher
programs; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 462A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [462A.2098] REGIONAL HOUSING NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency must
establish a statewide network of at least five regional housing navigators. Each navigator
must be in a different region of the state and support families who receive rental vouchers
by connecting them with suitable housing.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For the purposes of this section, "rental vouchers" includes housing
assistance vouchers under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended,
and rental assistance vouchers under section 462A.2095.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Duties. new text end

new text begin Each housing navigator must assist families who receive rental vouchers
in locating available rental housing, communicating with housing providers, connecting
with additional resources, arranging inspections, and coordinating move-in procedures.
Housing navigators must also serve as a resource for affordable rental housing providers to
address issues that arise with people who receive rental vouchers.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Regional planning. new text end

new text begin At least twice annually, each regional housing navigator
must convene a meeting with local housing providers and other interested stakeholders to
discuss issues, seek potential solutions, and identify opportunities for improvements in the
affordable rental housing market.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Statewide planning. new text end

new text begin At least once each year, the commissioner must convene
a meeting with all regional housing navigators to discuss issues, seek potential solutions,
and identify opportunities for improvements in the affordable rental housing market.
new text end

Sec. 2.

new text begin [462A.2099] HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER ACCOUNT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Creation. new text end

new text begin The housing choice voucher account is created as a separate
account in the housing development fund.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Rental housing. new text end

new text begin The agency may use money from the housing choice voucher
account to provide incentives to affordable rental housing providers who lease to people
who receive rental vouchers, as defined in section 462A.2098, subdivision 2. Grants may
be awarded to rental housing providers for:
new text end

new text begin (1) signing bonuses for leasing to new families;
new text end

new text begin (2) costs associated with initiating new leases;
new text end

new text begin (3) reimbursement for losses incurred when holding units open for people who receive
rental vouchers; and
new text end

new text begin (4) reimbursement for the cost of repairs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin (a) The agency must work with regional housing navigators established
under section 462A.2098, affordable rental housing providers, and other stakeholders to
identify recommendations for improvements to the process and procedures for providing
suitable housing to families who receive rental vouchers, as defined in section 462A.2098,
subdivision 2. The agency must consider:
new text end

new text begin (1) developing policies for the portability of rental vouchers;
new text end

new text begin (2) streamlining administration and procedures across different affordable rental housing
programs;
new text end

new text begin (3) providing consistency in rental housing inspections; and
new text end

new text begin (4) developing improvements to the rental assistance program in section 462A.2095.
new text end

new text begin (b) By January 10 each year, the commissioner shall report to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over housing finance and
policy on the administrative and procedural improvements that were identified and
implemented, as well as any potential changes to legislation that may be needed to support
these improvements.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin APPROPRIATION; REGIONAL HOUSING NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the housing
development fund to the commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the
regional housing navigator program under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.2098.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin TRANSFER; HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER ACCOUNT.
new text end

new text begin $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are transferred from the general
fund to the housing development fund. Of this transfer, $....... in each year is to the housing
choice voucher account under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.2099, in the housing
development fund. This transfer is $....... in fiscal year 2028 and each year thereafter.
new text end