CAPITOL UPDATE- SEPTEMBER 1, 2022
By Chris Wysocki
THE 2022 LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMES TO A CLOSE
State lawmakers have officially adjourned marking the end of the 2021-2022 Legislative Session. Over the last two years, 4,476 bills were introduced by state legislators. This figure does not include various resolutions or Constitutional Amendments.
The Senate introduced 1,500 bills and the Assembly introduced just over 2,900 bills respectively.
During this two-year session WMA tracked and monitored over 290 bills. WMA adopted formal positions on 26 bills, 19 of these bills were opposed by WMA and 7 were supported. Of the legislative measures WMA supported, three were chaptered into law. The remaining four bills we supported did not reach the Governor’s desk, but we plan on coming back in the next Legislative Session to re-introduce these measures. There were eight bills WMA opposed that were signed into law. However, our lobbying efforts and the involvement of local parkowners resulted in these bills being significantly amended to lessen the impact on parkowners. The Governor has until September 30 to sign or veto bills.
The past two years of this Legislative Session have been tumultuous. California was coming out of COVID, redistricting caused confusion, and almost 4,500 bills were introduced – many without a hope of passage and proposed for the purpose of political posturing. The final day of the 2021-2022 Session has now passed, and many bills will be introduced next year to “clean up” errors made in language that was passed and signed by the Governor. WMA’s legislative team will keep a close eye on these “clean-up” bills once the new Legislature is sworn in on December 5th.
MANAGER TRAINING BILL
SB 869 (Leyva, D-Chino) dealing with mobilehome parkowner training, was significantly amended to allow a third party such as WMA to provide the necessary training. This bill was passed on a 47-24 vote in the Assembly and a 30-9 vote in the Senate, and the bill is on its way to the Governor’s desk. WMA still opposes this bill, and the Governor’s office is aware of our position.
To keep apprised of the status of SB 869, please click on the following link
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220SB869
ALL EYES NOW FOCUS ON THE UPCOMING ELECTION
Now that the Legislative Session has finally come to an end, all eyes now shift to the election in November. When the Legislature reconvenes in the new year for the 2023-24 Session the Senate will have at least 10 new members, and the Assembly will see at least 26 new members.
Another slew of new seats will become open in the 2024 Election because of term limits or retirements. WMA and our Legislative Committee will meet after the November Election results are certified to discuss legislative priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session.
NEW LAWS IN THE NEW YEAR
With a new year upon us, many laws passed in 2022 will go into effect on January 1, 2023. WMA encourages parkowners to attend the New Laws Seminar that will be hosted at the upcoming 2022 WMA Convention and Expo on Tuesday October 11th from 3pm – 4:30pm. The New Laws Seminar will cover laws that go into effect January 1st. For more details on the Seminar please click on the following link.
https://www.wma.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/brochure2022-4pgsweb.pdf?1658169995
YOUR NEXT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
As bills are finalized and have now passed through the Legislature or have died, The Capitol Update will return with a final report after September 30th to update you on significant bills that were signed into law or vetoed by the Governor.
GET READY FOR CONVENTION
In case you missed it, registration for the 2022 WMA Convention and Expo is now open. The Convention and Expo will be held October 10th through the 13th at the fabulous M Resort Spa Casino in Henderson, Nevada. If you haven’t done so already, mark your calendars because this Convention and Expo is quickly approaching!
To register for the Convention and Expo, please visit the following link:
https://www.wma.org/promoted-event/2022-wma-convention-expo
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION
Because of the work of our legislative team and our parkowners who generously gave their time to testify, write letters and meet with their local legislators, WMA’s efforts avoided much of the worst. Hopefully, the next Legislature will bring in Assemblymembers and Senators more sympathetic to the manufactured housing industry and recognize that mobilehome parks are an asset to address California’s housing needs.
