We are in the home stretch of the 2017 Oregon Legislative Session. The target adjournment date is June 23rd, the constitutional deadline for adjournment is July 10th. The actual date will fall somewhere between the two - most likely in late June. Significant budget, tax, transportation issues still need to be haggled over as the legislative session draws to a close.
Nearly all legislative proposals MHCO has been tracking (mostly opposed) have died in committee.
Click Here or at the top of this article "MHCO Legislative Update" for links to bill drafts and the status of all bills actively tracked by MHCO.
Two significant legislative proposals addressing manufactured home communities are on their way to the Governor's desk for signature. Here is a summary of these two bills:
SB 277A - This is the landlord tenant coalition bill that was negotiated over several months and addresses changes to disrepair and deterioration. The bill provides clear definitions of disrepair and deterioration as well as making it clear that cosmetic or aesthetic concerns are not disrepair or deterioration. The 30 day cure period is extended to 60 days. The bill also clarifies the responsibility of new residents who purchase an existing manufactured home in the community for repairs including cosmetic or aesthetic concerns as long as those concerns are included in the community rules and the community owner gives written notice to a prospective purchaser before he or she becomes a new resident.
HB 2008A - this bill caused a great deal of anxiety for community owners when it was introduced in January. The original bill contained nearly every legislative concept that MHCO has been fighting against for the past 20 years. MHCO negotiated with John VanLandingham (Lane County Law Center) and Representatives Marsh, Fahey and the House Speaker to reach a compromise that removed nearly all of HB 2008 and replaced it with three issues.
The first issue increases the amount homeowners are compensated when a community CLOSES from $5,000 (single wide), $7,000 (double wide), $9,000 (triple wide) to $6,000 (single wide), $8,000 (double wide), $10,000 (triple wide) and tied future increases in compensation to CPI.
The second issue in the compromise addressed resident-owned communities. USDA Rural Development would like to pilot their 502 1% loan program in resident-owned cooperatives, however, they won't if there are restrictions requiring a lien holder to remove an abandoned or foreclosed MH after 12 months. The compromise will give resident-owned cooperatives the flexibility to negotiate storage terms with lien holders that are beneficial to the cooperative. This, in turn, will allow the cooperative to attract lenders who offer extremely affordable loan products to manufactured homeowners in cooperatives who wish to replace older or unsafe homes with new, energy-efficient ones.
The third issue, when a community sells the new community owner will need to report to the state - the number of vacant spaces and homes in the manufactured dwelling park; the final sale price of the community; the date the conveyance became final; and the name, address and telephone number of the new owner.
Finally, the other issue of great concern to all landlords is RENT CONTROL. HB 2004A (the rent control bill) is in the Senate. In March the HB 2004A passed out of the Oregon House and has had a public hearing in the Senate. Final action on the bill (work session) is scheduled for the end of May. There is no indication what the Senate will do, but a number of Democratic Senators have expressed opposition. At this time all eyes are on the Senate - we should have a good idea later next week on what direction the Senate will take on rent control and the elimination of 'no cause' eviction. We will keep you posted on any developments - all should be revealed within the next two weeks.
MHCO Legal Counsel Phil Querin will do a complete analysis and provide practical advice for all MHCO members (managers and community owners) on these new laws later this summer. In addition all necessary changes to MHCO Forms will be made as well.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact the MHCO office at 503-391-4496.
