2024 was a tremendous year for WMA.  While the Legislature was called back into special session to address high gasoline prices, nothing in the special session deals with issues related to manufactured housing.  As a result, 2024 is now officially in the books, and there will be no further action until the Legislature returns in early December.

Here is an update on the most significant bills affecting the manufactured housing community industry that passed and failed this year.  We will discuss many of these proposals at the upcoming Convention & Expo in Henderson, Nevada. Put simply, 2024 was one of the most successful legislative years in recent memory for WMA and our industry.  Here are the highlights:

AB 661 (Joe Patterson, R-Rocklin) – SIGNED INTO LAW

AB 661 allows parkowners and managers to electronically communicate with residents via text, email, or automated phone calls about planned utility disruptions.  Modeled after the utility Public Safety Power Shutoff system alerting customers of massive power outages, AB 661 is a way to shift from paper notices to electronic notifications.

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

AB 2387 (Gail Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz) – SIGNED INTO LAW

AB 2387 encourages new space construction by preventing local government from imposing impact fees or taxes on new construction, provided the number does not exceed 10% of the permitted spaces.  Certain limitations apply – coastal zones are exempt and existing amenities cannot be diminished.  However, this is a positive step toward creating more housing opportunities in California.

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

AB 2247 (Greg Wallis, R-Palm Springs) – SIGNED INTO LAW

AB 2247 extends the sunset of the Mobilehome Parks Act to 2030 and keeps the Permit to Operate fee at $140 plus an additional $7 per lot. The inspection fee remains at $4 per lot.  Further, AB 2247 requires the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to assemble a list of agencies that have MORE funding for home repairs and provide the list to residents who are cited for violations.

To read the text of AB 2247, please click here.

AB 2539 (Damon Connolly, D-San Rafael) – DEFEATED IN LEGISLATURE

AB 2539 would have given resident groups a right of first refusal to purchase a mobilehome park and delay a sale by up to 10 months.  Additionally, it would have prevented any discussion with potential buyers once a resident group expressed an interest in purchasing the park and would have had no financial impact on a resident group that was pulling out of a sale.  For policy and fiscal concerns, AB 2539 was held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

To read the text of AB 2539, please click here.

AB 2778 (Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance) – DEFEATED IN LEGISLATURE

AB 2778 would have imposed statewide rent control on mobilehome parks of 3% per year, with an upward adjustment to 5% or the increase in CPI – whichever is greater.  It would have also disallowed any vacancy decontrol, meaning rents could not be raised to market rate when a tenant sells the home.  Further, AB 2778 allowed local ordinances more severe than the statewide limits to remain in effect.  This bill was not even granted a hearing in the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee.

To read the text of AB 2778, please click here.

AB 2022 (Dawn Addis, D-Morro Bay) – VETOED BY GOVERNOR

AB 2022 would have required park managers to certify a working knowledge of a park’s emergency disaster plan and be available to assist in the evacuation of a park in case of a disaster.  This bill would have also required park managers to certify that fire hydrants are in proper working order, despite an existing law that already requires testing, and mandated park managers to certify that fire gates can be opened in case of an emergency, duplicating existing law. 

Finally, AB 2022 would have cost general the fund $2.3 million annually and would have required HCD to hire 13 people to administer a program reviewing emergency preparedness plans.  After extensive lobbying, the Governor vetoed AB 2022.

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

SB 1095 (Josh Becker, D-Menlo Park) – DEFEATED IN LEGISLATURE

SB 1095 would have required new homes placed in mobilehome parks to have all electric appliances without providing relief to parks that would require system upgrades to handle increased electric loads.  Additionally, this bill would have – in certain circumstances – allowed for installation of water heaters outside the home.

To read the text of SB 1095, please click here.

General Remarks

WMA had a tremendous year, but it would not have been possible without the support and participation of our members and coalition partners.  Our contract lobbyist Andrew Govenar of Governmental Advocates and our tireless legal advisors Terry Dowdall and Paul Jensen worked closely with WMA staff and our entire Legislative Committee to achieve what can best be characterized as WMA’s most successful legislative year in recent memory.

It is an honor serving WMA and our dedicated members who work hard to provide housing opportunities for hundreds of thousands of Californians.  The next Capitol Update will be sent out after the new Legislature is sworn into office on December 2, but please feel free to suggest ideas for new legislation that can be introduced in the 2025-26 Legislative session by emailing me at chris@wma.org or calling me in the office on my direct line at 916.288.4026. 

Thank you for your support and membership.  We had a very good year, but we will have to work hard next year to keep the momentum going.