The Emergency Rental Assistance Program Reform Amendment Act of 2025 aims to enhance the Emergency Rental Assistance Program by requiring tenants to provide specific documentation to establish their eligibility for assistance. The bill amends Section 8f of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005, clarifying the definition of a qualifying emergency situation and introducing a new requirement for applicants to document the nature of their emergency. If documentation is not available, an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury may suffice. Additionally, the bill repeals a previous paragraph that may have been redundant or outdated.

Furthermore, the bill modifies Section 501 of the Rental Housing Act of 1985, allowing courts to have discretion in entering a stay of eviction proceedings when a tenant submits proof of a pending Emergency Rental Assistance application, rather than mandating it. This change aims to provide more flexibility in handling eviction cases while ensuring that tenants who have secured assistance can avoid displacement. The bill also stipulates that if a tenant notifies their housing provider of an approved application shortly before an eviction, the eviction must be rescheduled to allow time for processing the assistance.