[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4761 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4761
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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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
_______________________________________________________________________
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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