Brief Summary of Engrossed Second Substitute Bill

• Requires landlords to offer tenants a reasonable schedule for repayment of any unpaid rent accrued during the public health emergency that does not exceed monthly payments equal to one-third of the monthly rental charges during the period of accrued debt.

  
  

• Expands eligibility for claim reimbursement under the landlord mitigation program to include unpaid rent accrued during the eviction moratorium and public health emergency periods and the tenant vacated or abandoned the tenancy and any remaining unpaid rent after the tenant defaults on a repayment plan.

  
  

• Requires the court to appoint counsel for indigent tenants at the initial hearing and at trial subject to amounts appropriated.
  

  
  

• Requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to contract with dispute resolution centers to establish a two-year, statewide eviction resolution pilot program to facilitate the resolution of nonpayment of rent cases.
  

  
  

• Requires the Department of Commerce to authorize landlords an opportunity to apply to certain state rental assistance programs, if feasible, while establishing necessary application and eligibility and conditions on receipt of funds .
  
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• Eliminates the optional notice for landlords to use in nonpayment of rent cases that instructs tenants to pay into the court registry the rent allegedly owed or file a statement denying rent is owed.