SF830
Community Meditation Minnesota appropriation for a statewide housing mediation program
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)
Related bill: HF497
AI Generated Summary
Purpose
To provide state funding for a statewide housing mediation program that helps renters, rental property owners, and homeowners resolve disputes peacefully and avoid evictions where possible.
Main provisions
- Funding: The bill would allocate $2,200,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $2,200,000 in fiscal year 2027 from Minnesota’s general fund to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. The money would go as a grant to Community Mediation Minnesota to run the statewide housing mediation program.
- Program goals: The program will offer housing dispute resolution services to renters, property owners, and homeowners; raise awareness and access to these services across the state; and provide mediation services for housing issues, including eviction prevention and navigation help.
- Service delivery: Services can be provided both virtually and in person.
- Partnerships: The program will work with culturally specific dispute resolution programs to train mediators and assist with mediation and resolution.
- Focus on vulnerable groups: The program aims to increase mediation services for seniors and renters with disabilities or illnesses who face housing instability.
- Mediator roster: The program aims to increase the diversity and cultural competency of the housing mediator roster.
- Integration with other services: Mediation services will be integrated with navigation and resource connection services, as well as legal assistance and court services programs.
- Evaluation and administration: The program will develop and use evaluation tools to design, modify, and replicate effective outcomes, and cover necessary administrative expenses.
Changes to existing law (significant changes)
- Establishment of a new statewide housing mediation program funded by the general fund, administered through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency by a grant to Community Mediation Minnesota.
- A broad expansion of housing dispute resolution services, with emphasis on eviction prevention, accessibility, cultural competency, and coordination with legal and court systems.
- Formal commitment to evaluate program outcomes and to partner with culturally specific mediation programs to reach diverse communities.
Funding timeframe and administration
- Fiscal years covered: 2026 and 2027.
- Administration: Funds allocated to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency to grant Community Mediation Minnesota for program operation.
Relevant Terms - housing mediation program - eviction prevention mediation - dispute resolution services - navigation services - virtual mediation - in-person mediation - culturally specific dispute resolution programs - mediation roster - diversity and cultural competency - seniors - renters with disabilities - housing instability - legal assistance - court services programs - evaluation tools - administrative expenses - general fund - Minnesota Housing Finance Agency - Community Mediation Minnesota
Past committee meetings
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Actions
| Date | Chamber | Where | Type | Name | Committee Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2025 | Senate | Action | Introduction and first reading | ||
| January 30, 2025 | Senate | Action | Referred to | Housing and Homelessness Prevention | |
| March 10, 2025 | Senate | Action | Author added |
Meeting documents
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Bill information comes from public records published by the Office of the Revisor of Statutes, the Minnesota House and the Minnesota Senate. AI summaries are written by MinneSlate and are not official. MinneSlate is independent and is not affiliated with the State of Minnesota or the Minnesota Legislature.