1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to housing; appropriating money to Community Mediation Minnesota for
1.3 a statewide housing mediation program.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. APPROPRIATION.
1.6 $2,200,000 in fiscal year 2026 and $2,200,000 in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from
1.7the general fund to the commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for a grant
1.8to Community Mediation Minnesota to administer a statewide housing mediation program
1.9to support renters and residential rental property owners. The program must:
1.10 (1) provide housing dispute resolution services to renters and rental property owners
1.11and homeowners;
1.12 (2) increase awareness of and access to housing dispute resolution services statewide;
1.13 (3) provide dispute resolution services, including but not limited to eviction prevention,
1.14mediation, and navigation services;
1.15 (4) partner with culturally specific dispute resolution programs to provide training and
1.16assistance with virtual and in-person mediation and resolution services;
1.17 (5) increase mediation services for seniors and renters with disabilities and illnesses who
1.18face housing instability;
1.19 (6) increase the diversity and cultural competency of the housing mediator roster;
1.20 (7) integrate housing mediation services with navigation and resource connection services,
1.21legal assistance, and court services programs;
1Section 1.
REVISOR MS/MI 25-0056311/19/24
State of Minnesota
This Document can be made available
in alternative formats upon request
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H. F. No. 497
NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
Authored by Agbaje, Howard, Hussein and Momanyi-Hiltsley02/13/2025
The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Housing Finance and Policy 2.1 (8) continue to develop and administer evaluation tools to design, modify, and replicate
2.2effective program outcomes; and
2.3 (9) provide for necessary administrative expenses.
2Section 1.
REVISOR MS/MI 25-0056311/19/24