The Emergency Rental Assistance Program Reform Amendment Act of 2025 aims to enhance the eligibility criteria and procedural requirements for tenants seeking Emergency Rental Assistance Funds. The bill amends section 8f of the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 to require tenants to provide specific documentation to establish their eligibility, including a new requirement to document the nature of the emergency situation. If documentation cannot be provided, an unsworn declaration under penalty of perjury may suffice. Additionally, the definition of an "emergency situation" is clarified to include unforeseen events that impact a tenant's ability to pay rent. The Mayor is also mandated to issue regulations to implement these changes.

Furthermore, the bill modifies section 501 of the Rental Housing Act of 1985, allowing courts to stay eviction proceedings when tenants present documentation of a pending Emergency Rental Assistance Program application. It requires housing providers to reschedule evictions under certain conditions related to pending or approved applications and establishes an affirmative defense for tenants in eviction cases if housing providers fail to comply with the application process. The bill also introduces provisions for the court to order housing providers to provide necessary documentation for tenants' applications and to waive rent if the housing provider fails to comply with requests for information.