HF4376 Housing Bill Summary

• Appropriates $229.6 million to the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency for fiscal years 2022-2023, with major funding for challenge programs ($20M), housing trust fund ($10M), homeless prevention ($14M), and community stabilization ($100M).

• Establishes new housing programs including community stabilization for naturally occurring affordable housing, strengthening supportive housing model, lead-safe homes grant program, housing mediation services, first-generation homebuyers down payment assistance fund, and manufactured home park cooperative purchase program.

• Expands housing finance authority by authorizing $400 million in additional housing infrastructure bonds and modifying eligible uses to include permanent housing affordable to households at or below 50% of area median income.

• Strengthens tenant protections by prohibiting nonrefundable fees (except for optional services), establishing heat requirements (68°F October-April), allowing lease termination upon medical infirmity, protecting tenants with pending rental assistance applications, and requiring 14-day notice before nonpayment evictions.

• Adds "participation in or requirements of a public assistance program" as a protected class in housing discrimination law and appropriates $383,000 for the Department of Human Rights to investigate income discrimination in housing.