Capitol Update – March 16, 2023
By Chris Wysocki
Joint Legislative Audit Committee Meeting March 22nd
The Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) will meet on March 22nd to make a decision about an audit request submitted by Senator Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) to have the California State Auditor report on the Mobilehome Residency Law Protection Program (MRLPP).
The MRLPP began collecting money from mobilehome parkowners in January of 2019, and the fee is $10 per space on an annual basis. Since 2019, the MRLPP has collected over $11 million but has spent just under $4 million. Of the 3,866 complaint allegations received since the program’s inception, 28 cases were resolved by a Legal Services Provider (LSP) under contract with the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
The MRLPP is set to “sunset” on January 1, 2024, but Assembly Bill 318, authored by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-San Luis Obispo), would make the MRLPP a permanent program. The requested audit would allow the California State Auditor to review the performance of the MRLPP and make recommendations about whether the program is necessary.
To learn more about the MRLPP, please click on the following link:
Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee Meeting March 29th
The first hearing of the Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee will be held on March 29, 2023. Three priority bills being tracked by WMA will be heard at this hearing.
Assembly Bill 604 (Lee, D-San Jose) would require water utilities under the jurisdiction of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to abide by requirements established under Assembly Bill 1061 that passed and was signed into law in 2021. WMA is strongly opposed to AB 604 and will testify in opposition to this measure. To read the text of Assembly Bill 604, please click on the following link:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB604
Assembly Bill 318 (Addis, D-San Luis Obispo) has been added to the agenda for March 29th, and this bill would make the MRLPP permanent. WMA is opposed to this legislation.
To read the text of Assembly Bill 318, please click on the following link:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB318
Assembly Bill 319 (Connolly, D-San Rafael) would require HCD employees who inspect manufactured housing communities to file a statement of economic interest document with the Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC). This legislation is supported by WMA, and it will ensure transparency and will enhance the ability of HCD inspectors to do their job without being accused of financial conflicts of interest. To read the text of Assembly Bill 319, please click on the following link:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB319
WMA Priority Bills Await Hearing Dates
WMA continues to oppose several legislative measures that would directly affect manufactured housing communities across the state. The following bills will be considered sometime in April, so please keep an eye out for emails from WMA on how you can make your voice heard by directly communicating with your legislators.
Assembly Bill 1035 (Muratsuchi, D-Torrance)
This measure as currently drafted would impose statewide rent control on mobilehome parks. The current language would cap rent increases at five percent with full vacancy control. WMA continues to work with the author on this legislation, but this harmful bill is our top legislative priority. To read the language of Assembly Bill 1035, please click on the following link:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1035
Assembly Bill 22 (Gipson, D-Compton)
This measure would allow recreational vehicles parked in manufactured housing communities to receive similar protections given to mobilehome park residents under the Mobilehome Residency Law. WMA is strongly opposed to this legislation. To read the language of AB 22, please click on the following link:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB22
Several other legislative proposals both supported and opposed by WMA await a scheduled hearing. To view a list of bills being tracked by WMA, please visit the following website:
Grant Funding Available for Prefabricated Zero Carbon Homes
GTI Energy has alerted WMA about a potential grant funding opportunity from the California Energy Commission to develop highly efficient all-electric manufactured homes meeting Title 24 Building Efficiency Standards, include on-site solar generation and battery storage, and achieve zero-carbon operation with drastically lower monthly electricity bills. One or more high-efficiency manufactured homes will be built and installed in low income, disadvantaged or tribal communities, at a cost at par with or lower than the low-efficiency HUD manufactured homes.
To learn more, please click on the following link:
GFO-22-305 – Advanced Prefabricated Zero Carbon Homes
Thank you for the opportunity to serve, and please feel free to e-mail me at chris@wma.org or call me on my direct line at (916) 288-4026 with any questions.
