July 25, 2025
Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania (for herself, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Tlaib, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Jayapal, and Ms. Simon) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
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.
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.