Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to conduct an audit of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA) to evaluate its compliance with equal opportunity laws and policies, particularly focusing on identifying disparities in housing access for African Americans in Minnesota.

Main Provisions

• Independent Auditor: The bill appropriates funds from the general fund for the fiscal year 2026 to the State Auditor to hire an independent auditor. This auditor will assess the MHFA's adherence to equal opportunity laws and policies.
• Citizen Oversight Committee: A citizen oversight committee will be established in collaboration with the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage. The committee will:
  1. Inventory all relevant state and federal equal opportunity laws and programs.
  2. Oversee the work of the independent auditor.
  3. Report findings and make recommendations.

Significant Changes

• Focus on African American Disparities: This bill introduces a specific focus on addressing housing disparities experienced by African Americans in Minnesota through a formal audit process and oversight by a newly established committee.
• Reporting: Recommendations based on the audit are to be reported to the governor and relevant legislative committees before the 2026 legislative session, which is a structured requirement that ensures timely action based on the audit findings.

Relevant Terms

• Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
• Independent audit
• Equal opportunity laws
• Housing access disparities
• African Americans in Minnesota
• Citizen oversight committee
• Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage