WMA Scores Legislative Win With Passage of AB 661

AB 661 (Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin) – Support / Sponsor

This bill — which would allow mobilehome park managers to notify residents about utility service disruptions by email, text, phone calls, or other electronic methods — has sailed through the Legislature.  It passed the Senate on consent and passed the State Assembly today with no opposition.  The bill will now be presented to the Governor for his signature.

This is the first bill sponsored by WMA this year to reach the Governor’s desk. Our legislative team is in contact with the Governor’s office to encourage him to sign the measure into law.

To read the current text of AB 661, click here.

State Budget Reaches Closing Stages as Negotiations Over Ballot Initiatives Continue

This week has been consumed with negotiations over the state budget, which must be passed by June 15 if legislators wish to keep getting paychecks. The past several weeks have seen Democrats in the Legislature push back on many proposals offered by Governor Newsom to close a budget deficit of approximately $45 billion in the 2024-25 budget year, and projected deficits of nearly $30 billion in the 2025-26 and 2026-27 budget years.

As of the time of this writing, the Governor and the Democrats, who overwhelmingly control the Legislature, are busily working to resolve significant differences over ideas to solve the budget deficit. One of the most notable differences involves public safety and how large the cuts will be to state prisons (the Governor called for an $80 million reduction, and legislative Democrats are calling for a $1.1 billion cut). Other differences include how much support should be given to undocumented immigrants for healthcare services and how much should be cut from education.

Only a handful of current legislators have had to deal with significant budget deficits; they have not had to make hard choices. It’s clear from political posturing that every attempt is being made to avoid making difficult decisions by using accounting techniques such as payroll deferrals into the next fiscal year and borrowing from special funds and education — which will have to be paid back in future years.

While the main budget must be passed by June 15 and signed into law by July 1, the budget process will continue for the remainder of the legislative session through numerous budget trailer bills needed to implement the policies passed in the budget bill.

To read the current state budget proposed by the Legislature, click here.

To read the budget proposed by the Governor, click here.

Ballot Measures Come into Play for November Elections

As the budget is being crafted and debated, another important deadline is quickly approaching.  The Secretary of State has until June 27 to certify which ballot measures will be voted on in the November General Election.  Some of the qualified measures include:

Taxpayer Protection Act

This measure would give voters the power to approve or reject tax increases passed by state or local governments. The Governor and Attorney General sued to have the Taxpayer Protection Act removed from the ballot based on a belief that it is a constitutional revision and not simply an amendment. The California Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether or not the measure will be placed on the ballot.

To read the Taxpayer Protection Act, please click here.

Retail Theft – Amendment to Proposition 47

It is no secret that crime will be a major issue in the 2024 election, and much of the blame for increased criminal activity has been assigned to Proposition 47 which passed in 2014. Prop 47 reclassified many “non-violent crimes” like shoplifting less than $950 worth of merchandise at a single store in a single incident as misdemeanors. Also included in Prop 47 is possession; the sale of certain drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamines became misdemeanors instead of felonies. 

To read the Homelessness, Drug Addiction; and Theft Reduction Act, click here.

Many other measures will appear on the ballot in November, including a third attempt to repeal Costa-Hawkins protections for apartments and rental housing — a measure that requires initiatives seeking to increase the vote threshold for taxes to pass the electorate by the same threshold proposed. (For example, if a ballot measure increases a vote threshold for a tax increase to two-thirds, the measure would have to pass the electorate with a two-thirds margin).

Action Taking Place on Other Bills of Interest to WMA

Along with the budget and political posturing over ballot measures, the Legislature continues to meet on bills of interest to WMA. Many of the legislative measures WMA strongly opposed have already been defeated, but our work is not yet done.

AB 2387 (Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz)- Support

This bill would allow mobilehome parks to add up to 10 percent of the permitted number of spaces for a park and be exempt from local fees or taxes.  Discussions are underway to make clarifying amendments, and the bill will be heard in the Senate Housing Committee on June 18. If it passes, it will be heard by the Senate Local Government Committee on June 26. It would then be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee in early August before advancing to the full Senate for consideration.

To read the current text of AB 2387, click here.

AB 2022 (Addis, D-Morro Bay) – Oppose

This bill, which deals with how parkowners and managers operate in emergency situation, was substantially amended from its introduced version. The Assembly Appropriations Committee advanced the bill to the full Assembly despite a fiscal analysis that showed the legislation would have a $2.6 million impact on the state’s General Fund, with the addition of 13 employees at the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). 

AB 2022 will be heard in the Senate Housing Committee on June 24. If it passes as expected, it will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee for consideration in early August.

To read the language of AB 2022, please click here.

To view a list of bills being monitored and tracked by WMA, and to learn about the positions WMA has taken on these legislative measures, please click here.

WMA Convention & Expo, Annual Frank J. Evans Golf Tournament

It may seem too early for this, but the WMA Convention & Expo and the annual Frank J. Evans Charitable Foundation golf tournament are right around the corner. The golf tournament will tee off the Convention with our return to the Revere Golf Club’s Lexington Course in Henderson, Nevada, on Monday, October 14, 2024, with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m.

Please call or email me to learn how you may become a sponsor of this year’s tournament, which is expected to be our best one yet.  Keep a lookout for more information by visiting the convention website at wma.org/conv2024.

WMA’s Annual Dues Renewal Campaign Is Underway

Since 1945, WMA has been the leading advocate for manufactured housing community owners. By renewing, you ensure that WMA will remain a strong organization that protects your business interests.

Renew today to continue receiving the valuable benefits and services included in a WMA membership, such as representation before state and local governments, superior education, forms and manuals, insurance discounts, day-to-day assistance, and much more.

As a reminder, membership dues will remain the same this year, and we have made it even easier for you to renew your membership by allowing you to do so online.

It is an honor to serve WMA. Please feel free to reach me directly at chris@wma.org or on my direct line at the office at 916.288.4026 if I may be of assistance or you need additional information.