An Act to Establish a State Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1310
Committee: Labor and Housing
Sponsors: WARREN, ARFORD, COLLINGS, CROCKETT, DHALAC, GRAMLICH, KESSLER, SHEEHAN, SUPICA

Legislative Document
No. 1310
H.P. 835
House of Representatives, March 23, 2023
An Act to Establish a State Emergency Rental Assistance Program
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on Labor and Housing suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative WARREN of Scarborough.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ARFORD of Brunswick, COLLINGS of Portland, 
CROCKETT of Portland, DHALAC of South Portland, GRAMLICH of Old Orchard Beach, 
KESSLER of South Portland, SHEEHAN of Biddeford, SUPICA of Bangor.
Emergency preamble.  Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, federally funded emergency rental assistance programs are ending, and it 
is necessary to create and fund state programs to replace the federally funded programs as 
soon as possible; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore,
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  30-A MRSA c. 201, sub-c. 3-D is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 3-D
EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE
§4768.  Emergency Rental Assistance Fund and Program
1.  Creation.  The Emergency Rental Assistance Fund, referred to in this section as 
"the fund," is established within the Maine State Housing Authority.  The fund may receive 
money from any available state, federal or private source. The fund may not lapse, but must 
be carried forward to carry out the purposes of this chapter.
2.  Program.  The Emergency Rental Assistance Program, referred to in this section 
as "the program," is established within the Maine State Housing Authority.
3.  Uses of fund.  The fund may be used for supplementing or creating emergency 
rental assistance under the program similar to that under the federally funded emergency 
rental assistance programs established by Section 501 of Division N of the federal 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 and Section 3201(a) of the 
federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2. 
4.  Reporting.  Beginning February 1, 2024, the Maine State Housing Authority shall 
provide a quarterly report of expenditures from the fund and the goals and achievements of 
the program to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
housing matters.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to supplement or create 
emergency rental assistance in order to mitigate the end of the federally funded emergency 
rental assistance programs established by Section 501 of Division N of the federal 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, Public Law 116-260 and Section 3201(a) of the 
federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2.