Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of this bill is to allocate state funds to support housing stability in St. Paul, Minnesota. It aims to improve relationships between landlords and tenants and reduce housing disputes and turnover.

Main Provisions

• Funding Allocation: The bill proposes the appropriation of $100,000 per year for two consecutive fiscal years, 2026 and 2027, from the general fund.
• Grant Recipient: The funds are designated for the Community Stabilization Project, which operates in the city of St. Paul.
• Use of Funds: The grant money will be used to:
  1. Provide guidance and tools to landlords to ensure compliance with rental housing regulations.
  2. Promote efficient property management practices that are sustainable in the long term.
  3. Enhance relationships between landlords and tenants to ease disputes, lower rental turnover rates, and encourage mediation.
  4. Assist landlords in obtaining rental payments, including helping tenants create budgets, access rental assistance programs, and establish payment plans.

Significant Changes

The bill introduces new funding specifically focused on enhancing housing stability through the empowerment of both landlords and tenants. The focus is on improving the rental housing ecosystem by promoting better management practices and tenant support, which is not explicitly outlined in current law but is seen as necessary for reducing disputes and aiding at-risk tenants.

Relevant Terms

• Housing stability
• Tenant assistance
• Landlord-tenant relationships
• Rental housing regulations
• Community Stabilization Project
• St. Paul
• Mediation
• Rental assistance programs
• Payment plans