Overview
- The one-time fund would draw on leftover money from a $109 million settlement created after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Tyler v. Hennepin County decision, with state officials estimating $35–$45 million remains.
- Counties and tribal governments would distribute the assistance using the existing Local Homeless Prevention Aid formula rather than a new funding stream.
- The Senate passed the bill 35–32 after adopting GOP-backed amendments to dedicate 5% to fraud prevention and to require applicants to verify eligibility.
- Democrats blocked an amendment to limit payments to U.S. citizens and legal residents in a 34–33 party-line vote, leaving eligibility broader than Republicans sought.
- Gov. Tim Walz voiced support for the effort, and Minneapolis and St. Paul have each set aside about $1 million in related emergency help in response to Operation Metro Surge.