Strengthen Minnesota homes program modification

A bill for an act

relating to commerce; modifying the strengthen Minnesota homes program;

appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 65A.299,

subdivisions 5, 6.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 65A.299, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Use of grants.

(a) A grant under this section must be used to retrofit an insurable

property.

(b) Grant money provided under this section must not be used for maintenance or repairs,

but may be used in conjunction with repairs or reconstruction necessitated by damage from

wind or hail.

(c) A project funded by a grant under this section must be completed within
deleted text begin
three
deleted text end
new text begin
six
new text end

months of the date the grant is approved. Failure to complete the project in a timely manner

may result in forfeiture of the grant.

new text begin

(d) As a condition of receiving a grant under this section, the commissioner must certify

to the insurer providing the homeowner's insurance policy that the property meets applicable

program standards. A homeowner whose property already meets program standards at the

time the application is submitted is eligible for a premium discount, rate reduction, or both.

new text end

new text begin

(e) The program must confirm that the homeowner's insurer provides a premium discount,

rate reduction, or both pursuant to section 65A.298 for properties that meet program

standards, including properties that met the standards before receiving a grant and properties

that never received a grant.

new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 65A.299, subdivision 6, is amended to read:

Subd. 6.

Applicant eligibility.

The commissioner must develop (1) administrative

procedures to implement this section, and (2) criteria used to determine whether an applicant

is eligible for a grant under this section
new text begin
, including preference for homeowners whose

household income is at or below 115 percent of the area median income, as determined by

the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
new text end
.

Sec. 3.
new text begin
APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin

$35,000,000 in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the general fund to the strengthen

Minnesota homes account under Minnesota Statutes, section 65A.299, subdivision 4, to

issue grants and administer the program. This is a onetime appropriation.

new text end