1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to housing; establishing a stable housing mediation grant program; 
1.3 	appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 
1.4 	462A.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [462A.2098] MINNESOTA HOUSING MEDIATION GRANT PROGRAM.
1.7 		Subdivision 1.Establishment; purpose. The agency shall establish a housing mediation 
1.8 	program to reduce negative consequences to renters, rental property owners, families, 
1.9 	schools, employers, neighborhoods, and communities by providing support to renters and 
1.10 	residential rental property owners.
1.11 		Subd. 2.Selection criteria. The agency shall award grants to community dispute 
1.12 	resolution programs certified under section 494.015. The agency shall develop forms and 
1.13 	procedures for soliciting and reviewing applications for grants under this section.
1.14 		Subd. 3.Administration. The agency shall award a grant to Community Mediation 
1.15 	Minnesota to administrate the housing mediation program to ensure effective statewide 
1.16 	management, program design, and outreach among the grantees.
1.17 		Subd. 4.Authorized uses of grant. The grant funding must be used to:
1.18 	(1) provide housing dispute resolution services;
1.19 	(2) increase awareness of and access to housing dispute resolution services statewide;
1.20 	(3) provide alternative dispute resolution services, including but not limited to eviction 
1.21 	prevention, mediation, and navigation services;
2.1 	(4) partner with culturally specific dispute resolution programs to provide training and 
2.2 	assistance with virtual and in-person mediation services;
2.3 	(5) increase mediation services for seniors and renters with disabilities and illnesses that 
2.4 	face housing instability;
2.5 	(6) increase the diversity and cultural competency of the housing mediator roster;
2.6 	(7) integrate housing mediation services with navigation and resource connection services, 
2.7 	legal assistance, and court services programs; and
2.8 	(8) develop and administer evaluation tools to design, modify, and replicate effective 
2.9 	program outcomes.

2.10 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; STABLE RENTAL HOUSING MEDIATION.
 2.11 	$2,000,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2025 are appropriated from 
2.12 	the general fund to the commissioner of the Housing Finance Agency to fund housing 
2.13 	mediation grants under Minnesota Statutes, section 462A.2098. Of this amount, $....... is 
2.14 	available to the department for the administrative costs in Minnesota Statutes, section 
2.15 	462A.2098, subdivision 3.