1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to housing; establishing a regional housing navigator program;
1.3 appropriating money for regional housing navigators; establishing the housing
1.4 choice voucher account; transferring money to the housing choice voucher account;
1.5 requiring reports; requiring the commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency to
1.6 identify recommendations for improvements to affordable housing rental voucher
1.7 programs; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 462A.
1.8BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.9 Section 1. [462A.2098] REGIONAL HOUSING NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.
1.10 Subdivision 1.Establishment.The commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency must
1.11establish a statewide network of at least five regional housing navigators. Each navigator
1.12must be in a different region of the state and support families who receive rental vouchers
1.13by connecting them with suitable housing.
1.14 Subd. 2.Definition.For the purposes of this section, "rental vouchers" includes housing
1.15assistance vouchers under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937, as amended,
1.16and rental assistance vouchers under section 462A.2095.
1.17 Subd. 3.Duties.Each housing navigator must assist families who receive rental vouchers
1.18in locating available rental housing, communicating with housing providers, connecting
1.19with additional resources, arranging inspections, and coordinating move-in procedures.
1.20Housing navigators must also serve as a resource for affordable rental housing providers to
1.21address issues that arise with people who receive rental vouchers.
1.22 Subd. 4.Regional planning.At least twice annually, each regional housing navigator
1.23must convene a meeting with local housing providers and other interested stakeholders to
1Section 1.
25-04462 as introduced03/07/25 REVISOR MS/RC
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 2745NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: LATZ and Port)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading03/20/2025
Referred to Housing and Homelessness Prevention 2.1discuss issues, seek potential solutions, and identify opportunities for improvements in the
2.2affordable rental housing market.
2.3 Subd. 5.Statewide planning.At least once each year, the commissioner must convene
2.4a meeting with all regional housing navigators to discuss issues, seek potential solutions,
2.5and identify opportunities for improvements in the affordable rental housing market.
2.6 Sec. 2. [462A.2099] HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER ACCOUNT.
2.7 Subdivision 1.Creation.The housing choice voucher account is created as a separate
2.8account in the housing development fund.
2.9 Subd. 2.Rental housing.The agency may use money from the housing choice voucher
2.10account to provide incentives to affordable rental housing providers who lease to people
2.11who receive rental vouchers, as defined in section 462A.2098, subdivision 2. Grants may
2.12be awarded to rental housing providers for:
2.13 (1) signing bonuses for leasing to new families;
2.14 (2) costs associated with initiating new leases;
2.15 (3) reimbursement for losses incurred when holding units open for people who receive
2.16rental vouchers; and
2.17 (4) reimbursement for the cost of repairs.
2.18 Subd. 3.Report.(a) The agency must work with regional housing navigators established
2.19under section 462A.2098, affordable rental housing providers, and other stakeholders to
2.20identify recommendations for improvements to the process and procedures for providing
2.21suitable housing to families who receive rental vouchers, as defined in section 462A.2098,
2.22subdivision 2. The agency must consider:
2.23 (1) developing policies for the portability of rental vouchers;
2.24 (2) streamlining administration and procedures across different affordable rental housing
2.25programs;
2.26 (3) providing consistency in rental housing inspections; and
2.27 (4) developing improvements to the rental assistance program in section 462A.2095.
2.28 (b) By January 10 each year, the commissioner shall report to the chairs and ranking
2.29minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over housing finance and
2.30policy on the administrative and procedural improvements that were identified and
2Sec. 2.
25-04462 as introduced03/07/25 REVISOR MS/RC 3.1implemented, as well as any potential changes to legislation that may be needed to support
3.2these improvements.
3.3 Sec. 3. APPROPRIATION; REGIONAL HOUSING NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.
3.4 $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are appropriated from the housing
3.5development fund to the commissioner of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for the
3.6regional housing navigator program under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.2098.
3.7 Sec. 4. TRANSFER; HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER ACCOUNT.
3.8 $....... in fiscal year 2026 and $....... in fiscal year 2027 are transferred from the general
3.9fund to the housing development fund. Of this transfer, $....... in each year is to the housing
3.10choice voucher account under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.2099, in the housing
3.11development fund. This transfer is $....... in fiscal year 2028 and each year thereafter.
3Sec. 4.
25-04462 as introduced03/07/25 REVISOR MS/RC