There are several significant deadlines in the Oregon Legislature that start to willow down the life span of legislative proposals. The first of these deadlines was last Friday, April 7th. As of midnight on last Friday any bill in a committee in the chamber of origin (Senate bills in the Senate and House bills in the House) must be scheduled for a hearing and work session or the bill will not be considered any further during this legislative session. The exceptions to this rule are bills in Revenue Committees, Rules Committees and Ways and Means Committees which stay open the duration of the legislative session. The remaining bills will need to move out of committees by April 18th.
A number of bad legislative bills that MHCO has been fighting were stopped by last week's legislative deadline. However there are three bills that remain 'alive' that are of great concern:
HB 2004A: Prohibits landlord from terminating month-to-month tenancy without cause after first six months of occupancy except under certain circumstances with 90 days' written notice and payment of [relocation expenses] amount equal to one month's periodic rent. Provides exception for cer- tain tenancies for occupancy of dwelling unit in building or on property occupied by landlord as primary residence. Makes violation defense against action for possession by landlord. Requires fixed term tenancy to become month-to-month tenancy upon reaching specific ending date, unless tenant elects to renew or terminate tenancy. Requires landlord to make tenant offer to renew fixed term tenancy. [Repeals statewide prohibition on city and county ordinances controlling rents.] Permits city or county to implement rent stabilization program for rental of dwelling units. This bill passed the Oregon House and is now being considered in the Senate.
HB 2008: Requires landlord of manufactured dwelling park to pay tenant necessary relocation costs or applicable manufactured dwelling park closure penalty, as determined by Office of Manufactured Dwelling Park Community Relations, upon closure of park to convert to other use. Requires owner of manufactured dwelling park to give notice of final sale to office upon sale of park. Prohibits landlord from terminating without cause, unless under certain circumstances with 90 days' written notice, month-to-month tenancy consisting of rental of manufactured dwelling of float- ing home owned by landlord on space in facility. Requires fixed term tenancy consisting of rental of manufactured dwelling or floating home owned by landlord on space in facility to become month-to-month tenancy upon reaching specific end date, unless tenant elects to renew or terminate tenancy. Requires landlord to make tenant offer to renew fixed term tenancy. Requires office to produce materials to inform tenants of rights and adopt rules to require landlords to post materials in manufactured dwelling park public spaces. Directs office to establish and administer landlord-tenant dispute resolution program. Requires office to submit annual report on progress of program to interim committees of Legislative Assembly related to housing and human services for five years. Authorizes office to impose penalties for violations of landlord-tenant law against landlords of manufactured dwelling parks. Scheduled for a legislative work session on Thrusday.
HB 3331: Directs Office of Manufactured Dwelling Park Community Relations to establish and administer landlord-tenant dispute resolution program for disputes arising from notices of certain rent in- creases. Scheduled for legislative work session on Thursday.
We will be sending updates on the status of these three bills as they move through the legislative process. We are expecting significant amendments to HB 2008 but not enough to change MHCO's opposition. We are also expecting significant amendments in the Senate on HB 2004A. Again, the amendments will likely not change MHCO's opposition.
MHCO was successful in negotiating a landlord-tenant coalition bill (SB 277). This bill will be significantly amended on Wednesday in the Senate. We were also successful in exempting manufactured home communities from HB 2511. Obviously, all the bad bills left behind so far this session are a success - but we still have a lot work ahead.
We have reached the halfway point of the 2017 Legislative Session. Unlike past legislative sessions this one looks to be a ugly and nasty fight to the end in July.
A detailed list of bills currently being tracked by MHCO is attached - just click above the title.
