This bill proposes several updates to current statutes regarding rental assistance and the housing trust fund. It introduces a new section, 41-1970, which mandates the establishment of a rental assistance program by the department of economic security. The program will allow tenants to apply for rental assistance through a streamlined process, with applications being approved or denied within five business days. The bill specifies that tenants can receive assistance for up to three months once every twelve months, and it clarifies that tenants do not need to be delinquent on rent to apply. Additionally, it requires landlords to verify any delinquent balances and prohibits them from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent during the months covered by the assistance.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the existing housing trust fund provisions by allocating fifty percent of certain transferred funds specifically for the rental assistance program. It also emphasizes the importance of financial literacy by requiring the establishment of a free financial literacy class for tenants seeking assistance. The bill retains the current structure of the housing trust fund while ensuring that a portion of its resources is dedicated to supporting the newly established rental assistance program.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-1970, 41-3955, 42-5029, 44-313, 35-751, 35-313, 35-190