Eviction Right to Counsel Act of 2025

This plan would help low-income renters get a free lawyer when they face eviction. It sets up a national fund to give grants to states, cities, and Tribal governments that have, or pay for, “right to counsel” laws for tenants. A “covered individual” is a tenant making at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. The fund would receive $100 million each year from 2026 through 2030 to support these programs .

Governments that apply would get priority if they also protect tenants in other ways, like limiting evictions without good cause, giving at least 30 days’ written notice, running eviction diversion programs, or offering emergency rental help. Grant money can pay for the costs of these right-to-counsel programs, including training and recruiting attorneys to represent eligible tenants in eviction cases .

• Who is affected: Tenants with incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty line
• What changes: Federal grants to governments that run free legal help for low-income tenants facing eviction; priority for places with added tenant protections and for training/recruiting attorneys
• When: Funding authorized yearly from 2026 through 2030