California Budget Deadline Approaches

With less than a week until California’s constitutional deadline for passing a budget, lawmakers are working intensively to resolve any outstanding issues before sending the budget to the Governor. Last week, Governor Newsom admitted, as reported by Dan Walters at CalMatters, the budget deficit is significantly larger than initially projected in January. The revised budget aims to reduce reliance on reserves and includes substantial cuts amounting to billions of dollars.

WMA continues to monitor the budget closely, focusing particularly on any trailer bill language. These bills are often used to implement policies from previously blocked legislation that is revived during the budget process.

Committees Prepare for Summer Recess

Following the passage of the state budget, policy committees will intensify their efforts to review bills in the Second House before the Summer Recess, which begins on July 3. Over the coming weeks, several bills of interest to WMA will be under consideration, including the following:

Assembly Bill 661 (Patterson, R-Rocklin) — Support

This  bill, sponsored by WMA, would allow residents of manufactured housing communities to voluntarily receive electronic notification of unforeseen utility disruptions in their communities in lieu of receiving paper notices. This bill was passed on consent in the Senate Judiciary earlier this week and is expected to be heard in August when the legislature returns from recess.

 To view the current language of this bill, please click here. 

AB 2022 (Addis, D-Morro Bay) – Oppose

This bill, dealing with how parkowners and managers operate in emergency situations, 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 passed the full Assembly on a 56-4 vote, with 20 legislators abstaining. WMA continues to oppose this measure. It will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee in late June and if passed, will move to the Senate Appropriations Committee — which could decide to not advance the bill to the full Senate for consideration.

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

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

This bill would exempt new spaces constructed in existing mobilehome parks from local fees and taxes not currently levied on other spaces in the park. WMA testified in support of this measure, and we continue to work with the author to ensure that areas used for recreational vehicle storage and boat storage can be converted to new housing.

The bill limits the number of new spaces that are exempt from fees and taxes to ten percent of the permitted spaces currently allowed in the park. For example, this bill would allow for ten new spaces to be constructed in an existing 100-space mobilehome park. As drafted, the bill involves new space construction and is silent on the number of homes placed on a space.

If the bill passes Senate Housing and Local Government  Committee in mid – to late June (it passed the Assembly on a 69-0 vote), it will be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee in August..

To read the most current language of AB 2387, please click here.

AB 2291 (Alanis, R-Modesto) – Support

This bill was originally drafted in response to the California State Audit of the Mobilehome Residency Law Protection Program (MRLPP). It would have suspended the annual $10 per lot fee and would have required Legal Service Providers (LSPs) to disclose to HCD how funds distributed to LSPs are being spent in dealing with MRLPP complaints. This bill has received no opposition throughout the process so far. AB 2291 has been referred to two committees — Senate Housing and Senate Judiciary Committee. If this bill passes both committees in mid – to late June, it will advance to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

To read the language of AB 2291, please click here.

AB 2247 (Wallis, R-Rancho Mirage) – Support

 This bill is a sunset extension bill that will extend the life of the Mobilehome Parks Act (MPA) — which is set to expire on January 1, 2025 — to January 1, 2030. AB 2247 will also require HCD to notify residents with violations about the Manufactured Housing Opportunity and Revitalization (MORE) programs, informing them on how to apply for loans and grants to correct the violation.  WMA was the primary witness in support of this legislation.

 AB 2247 will be considered by the Senate Housing Committee later in June. If it passes out of committee, it will be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee in August.

 To read the language of AB 2247 without the amended language, please click here.

SB 1108 (Ochoa Bogh, R-Redlands) – Support

This bill is sponsored by WMA and would more promptly inform community owners about resident violations that could result in a suspension or revocation of a Permit to Operate (PTO) if left uncured. This bill has received no opposition and will soon be considered by the full Senate before being transmitted to the Assembly for its consideration.

This bill has been assigned to the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee and  will be heard in mid – to late June. If passed, it will be considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee in August.

To read the language of SB 1108, 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’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.

Now, as  members, you can renew directly online at your convenience.

Thank you for your continued support!

WMA Convention and Annual Frank J. Evans Golf Tournament

It is only June, but the WMA Convention & Expo and annual Frank J. Evans Charitable Foundation golf tournament is 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.

Keep a lookout for more information by visiting the convention website at wma.org/conv2024.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach me directly at ray@wma.org.