Hometown Heroes Home Loan Guaranty Program; establish.

HB 1278 establishes the Hometown Heroes Home Loan Guaranty Program to help eligible firefighters, law enforcement officers, nurses, and teachers secure conventional home loans for their primary residence. To qualify, applicants must have at least four years of continuous full-time employment in their profession and certify they will apply for homestead exemption. The program creates a dedicated "Hometown Heroes Home Loan Guaranty Fund" in the state treasury, administered by the Department of Finance and Administration, which will provide loan guarantees using state appropriations without lapsing unspent funds at year-end. This fund will cover loan guaranties for qualified individuals seeking conventional financing for home purchases.