Sponsors (12)
The bill expands access to federally supported legal representation for low‑income renters—reducing evictions and homelessness risk—while increasing federal spending and leaving gaps and uncertainty for jurisdictions and tenants after the five‑year funding window.
Low-income tenants (≤200% of the federal poverty level) will gain access to free legal representation in eviction and housing-subsidy termination proceedings, increasing their ability to defend housing rights.
State, local, and tribal jurisdictions receive federal support ($100 million per year, 2026–2030) to implement right-to-counsel programs, lowering local fiscal barriers to offering counsel.
Tenants facing eviction are less likely to lose housing, reducing the risk of homelessness and housing instability for affected households.
Some low-income tenants will remain without new counsel protections because jurisdictions that do not adopt qualifying laws or lack administrative capacity may receive no grant funds.
The program's short funding authorization (five years, 2026–2030) creates uncertainty about long-term continuity, risking staff turnover and program instability after grants expire.
Federal taxpayers will bear increased federal outlays (about $100 million per year while authorized), adding to budgetary costs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a Treasury fund and authorizes $100M/year (FY2026–2030) for HUD grants to finance free legal counsel for low‑income tenants in eviction/housing subsidy termination cases.
Introduced July 25, 2025 by Summer Lee · Last progress July 25, 2025
Creates a federal fund and directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award grants that pay for free legal representation for low‑income tenants in eviction and housing subsidy termination cases. The bill authorizes $100 million per year from FY2026 through FY2030 for states, local governments, and Indian Tribal governments that have enacted or will pay to implement right‑to‑counsel laws for tenants at or below 200% of the Federal poverty level.