119-s2463

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2463 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2463

 To provide grants to State and local governments that enact or are 
fiscally responsible for implementing right to counsel legislation for 
 low-income tenants facing eviction, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 July 24, 2025

 Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Sanders, and 
Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
 referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To provide grants to State and local governments that enact or are 
fiscally responsible for implementing right to counsel legislation for 
 low-income tenants facing eviction, and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Eviction Right to Counsel Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. EVICTION RIGHT TO COUNSEL FUND.

    (a) 

=== Definitions. ===
-In this section:

    (1) Covered individual.--The term ``covered individual'' 
 means a tenant with an income that is equal to or less than 200 
 percent of the Federal poverty line.

    (2) Covered proceeding.--The term ``covered proceeding'' 
 means a civil action in a court or administrative forum for--
        (A) eviction, or an equivalent ejectment, from the 
 primary residence of the tenant; or
        (B) the termination of a housing subsidy.

    (3) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a 
 State government, a local government, or an Indian Tribal 
 government.

    (4) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Eviction Right to 
 Counsel Fund established under subsection

    (b) .

    (5) Indian tribal government.--The term ``Indian Tribal 
 government'' has the meaning given the term ``Indian tribal 
 government'' in 

section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 
 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122).

    (6) Right to counsel legislation.--The term ``right to 
 counsel legislation'' means legislation that specifies that 
 full legal representation shall be provided at no cost to all 
 covered individuals in a covered proceeding.

    (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
 of Housing and Urban Development.

    (8) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, 
 the District of Columbia, and any territory or possession of 
 the United States.

    (b) Establishment of Fund.--

    (1) In general.--There is established in the Treasury of 
 the United States a fund to be known as the ``Eviction Right to 
 Counsel Fund'' consisting of the amounts authorized to be 
 appropriated under paragraph

    (2) .

    (2) Deposits to the fund.--There are authorized to be 
 appropriated to the Fund $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
 2026 through 2030 for the cost of making grants under 
 subsection
            (c) .
            (c) Grants.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
 provide grants to eligible entities that enact right to counsel 
 legislation or are fiscally responsible for implementing right 
 to counsel legislation.

    (2) Application.--
        (A) In general.--An eligible entity that desires a 
 grant from the Secretary under this subsection shall 
 submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
 such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
 Secretary may reasonably require.
        (B) Requirement.--An application submitted under 
 subparagraph
        (A) shall include a certification that the 
 eligible entity has enacted right to counsel 
 legislation or is fiscally responsible for implementing 
 right to counsel legislation.

    (3) Priority.--In selecting applicants under this section, 
 the Secretary shall prioritize funding for eligible entities 
 that--
        (A) have enacted, or are fiscally responsible for 
 implementing, laws that--
            (i) limit the causes for which a landlord 
 can evict a tenant or refuse to renew the lease 
 of a tenant when the tenant is not at fault or 
 in violation of any law;
            (ii) require adequate written notice 
 periods of not less than 30 days for tenants 
 facing eviction;
            (iii) establish eviction diversion 
 programs; or
            (iv) provide emergency rental assistance to 
 tenants; or
        (B) will prioritize using grant funds for the 
 training and recruitment of attorneys to provide 
 representation for covered individuals in a covered 
 proceeding.

    (4) Use of funds.--A recipient of a grant under this 
 section may use the grant funds for the costs incurred by right 
 to counsel legislation, including providing training resources 
 for attorneys representing covered individuals in covered 
 proceedings.
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