Legislature Adjourns for Summer Recess

Today marks the beginning of the Legislature’s annual summer recess, and business will resume on August 14^th before final adjournment on September 14^th. 

Back in January, WMA saw a slew of legislative proposals that could have had severe impacts on our industry, including statewide rent control, allowing resident groups to effectively block the sale of manufactured housing communities, and giving owners of recreational vehicles parked in mobilehome parks rights of permanent residency to name a few.

The work of our members, our local regional representatives, our attorneys working on behalf of the Committee to Save Property Rights, and our entire legislative lobbying team have helped stop these measures from moving forward, but we continue to face challenges that could impact our industry.

Over the coming month, WMA will work with legislators and committee staff on the few remaining bills affecting our industry.

Several Key Bills Continue Moving Forward

Because of WMA’s work, the list of bills that negatively impact our industry is relatively small this year, but the ones still alive remain a top priority for our legislative team.

Assembly Bill 318 (Addis, D-Morro Bay)

This bill would extend the Mobilehome Residency Law Protection Program (MRLPP) for another three years. Given that WMA led efforts to require the State Auditor to conduct a thorough review of the MRLPP, WMA has recommended a one-year extension of the program to allow the Auditor to complete its audit, which should be concluded by the end of 2023.  This legislation was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee last week on a 9-2 vote and will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee when the Legislature reconvenes in August. WMA will continue to work with the Senate Appropriations Committee to amend the bill to a one-year sunset extension.  To read the current contents of Assembly Bill 318, please click here.

Assembly Bill 604 (Lee, D-San Jose)

This bill would extend the provisions of Assembly Bill 1061, authored by Assemblymember Lee in 2021, to water companies regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission. WMA strongly opposes this measure and will continue to lobby against its passage. The bill passed the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee on a 15-2 vote this week, and the bill will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee when the Legislature reconvenes in August.

WMA utilized our VoterVoice program on Assembly Bill 604, and I wish to thank the nearly 1,000 WMA members who reached out to legislators on this legislation. WMA will be working with the Senate Appropriations Committee over the summer recess on amendments to the legislation that may lessen the impact on manufactured housing communities that receive water from a water agency under the jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission. To read the current version of AB 604, please click here.

Assembly Bill 319 (Connolly, D-San Rafael)

This legislation would require inspectors with the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to file statements of economic interest forms with the Fair Political Practices Commission and extend the sunset of the Mobilehome Parks Act by one year. Supported by WMA, the bill passed out of the Senate Housing Committee on June 20th on an 11-0 vote and will next be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee. To read the current version of Assembly Bill 319, please click here.

Assembly Bill 1093 (Patterson, R-Fresno)

This legislation will simplify the property tax collection process for homes sold in manufactured housing communities. Many mobilehome sales do not involve escrow accounts as they are often all cash sales, which is an issue for property tax clearance. Assembly Bill 1093 is an attempt to give local tax collectors accurate data for sales of manufactured homes.  The Senate Governance and Finance Committee passed this legislation yesterday on consent, and it will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee when the Legislature returns in August.  To read the current version of AB 1093, please click here.

Assembly Bill 1334 (Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz)

This bill will encourage the construction of new spaces in existing manufactured housing communities by exempting up to ten percent of new development from local fees and taxes. The legislation passed out of the Senate Housing Committee and the Senate Governance and Finance Committee by unanimous consent, largely due to the 800 WMA members who took the time to respond to our VoterVoice appeal.

The outpouring of support for this legislation was instrumental in securing the overwhelming passage of a common-sense bill to increase the housing supply in California.  This legislation was heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee this week, and it was placed on the suspense file that will be considered upon the Legislature’s return from summer recess. To read the current version of AB 1334, please click here.

Legislative Update to Resume in August

Because of the summer recess, the next Legislative Update will not be sent until August 17^th.

Please make sure you have August 3^rd on your calendar for our monthly “Coffee Talk” where we will have a representative from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) discuss the inspection process and what you can do in advance of inspections.  More information will be provided in the coming weeks.  Our Coffee Talks have been a tremendous way to learn about a wide array of topics, and the event is free of charge for WMA members.

It is an honor to serve WMA, and please feel free to call me on my direct line at 916.288.4026 with any questions. Otherwise, please keep an eye out for the next Legislative Update on August 17^th.