MS HB1810

Creates the "Rental Assistance Grant Program" administered by the Mississippi Development Authority to provide grants up to $30,000 to eligible rental businesses for lost rental income between March 1, 2020, and December 30, 2020, due to COVID-19 and eviction moratoria.

Transfers $20,000,000 from the Budget Contingency Fund to a new Rental Assistance Grant Program Fund in the State Treasury to fund the grants.

Requires grant recipients to treat all rental payments as paid in full through December 30, 2020, and prohibits eviction of tenants for nonpayment of rent accrued during the covered period, though evictions for other lawful reasons are permitted.

Limits commercial businesses to no more than 25 percent of total appropriated funds and requires all grants to comply with federal Coronavirus Relief Fund guidelines and be subject to audit by the U.S. Department of Treasury and Mississippi State Auditor.

Excludes rental assistance grant amounts from gross income for Mississippi state income tax purposes and directs transfer of any unobligated funds remaining on December 15, 2020, to the Unemployment Compensation Fund.