Senate File 2950 would provide $11,500,000 in one‑time state funding to the Rondo Community Land Trust to expand a homebuyer pilot serving Ramsey and Dakota counties.

The bill’s author, Senator Pappas, told the Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention that escalating home prices, stagnant wages and higher mortgage rates have made homeownership “challenging” for low‑income households, and that the Rondo Community Land Trust is a model used to keep housing affordable for first‑time and historically excluded buyers. "This bill illustrates just that," Pappas said.

Makiya Griffin, executive director of Rondo Community Land Trust, described how community land trusts retain ownership of land to preserve long‑term affordability while allowing homeowners to build limited equity. "When the state invests in the community land trust model, they are using taxpayer dollars wisely," Griffin said. She said the pilot would target households with adjusted incomes at or below 115% of area median income and would provide financial assistance and post‑purchase rehab grants to address deferred maintenance.

A homeowner who testified in support, Raikik Andesha, described buying a home through the land trust after years in a one‑bedroom apartment and said homeownership had allowed her family greater stability.

Committee members asked no substantive policy questions during the testimony period. Senator Pappas closed by noting budget constraints and the committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus.

The committee transcript records the appropriation amount and that the pilot would use a land‑trust model to ensure long‑term affordability; it does not specify implementation details such as administrative lead agency, precise eligibility verification steps, or an implementation timeline.