The Emergency Rental Assistance Program Reform Amendment Act of 2025 amends the Homeless Services Reform Act of 2005 and the Rental Housing Act of 1985 to enhance the process for tenants seeking Emergency Rental Assistance Funds. It requires tenants to provide specific documentation to establish eligibility, including a declaration of the nature of their emergency situation if documentation is unavailable. The definition of an emergency situation is clarified to include unforeseen events that necessitate immediate action to avoid homelessness or eviction. Additionally, the Mayor is mandated to issue regulations to implement these changes.

The bill also modifies the court's authority regarding eviction proceedings related to nonpayment of rent. It allows courts to stay eviction proceedings when tenants present proof of a pending Emergency Rental Assistance Program application, rather than mandating a stay. Housing providers are required to reschedule evictions if tenants notify them of an approved assistance application, and a new affirmative defense is established for tenants in eviction cases where housing providers fail to comply with the assistance application process. These changes aim to provide greater protections for tenants facing eviction and streamline the assistance process.