SB 1920 Goes To Governor’s Desk Relocation Commission Established

As reported in our last publication SB 1920 passed out of the state Senate with no nays. This piece of legislation addresses issues that arise when the owner operator sells the land your home sits on for another usage. It would put in place finical benefits for the homeowner designed to help with the expenses that come with community closures disrupting the lives of many families in this type of owner operator decision. SB 1920 would put in place an updated law protecting homeowners that presently places the total burden only on the homeowners when this type of mass eviction occurs. SB 1920 brings with it avenues that would open up opportunities for the homeowners to buy the land that state law does not require at this time.

Owner operators and their representatives continued with the decision not to meet with MHOAI representatives while SB 1920 was going through the senate. This brings us to April 22nd, Manufactured Home Owners Day at the state capitol. This sunny, windy day brought with it hundreds of homeowner’s state wide that traveled to the capitol to make a difference, and it did.

After the first bus load and several caravans of homeowners started arriving, Terry Nelson received a call from our sponsor, Senator Susan Garrett. One group of landlord representatives wanted to meet with us and had a proposal in writing. As more homeowners arrived MHOAI was approached by another owner operator lobbyist. Lobbyists working towards tax related bills that would negatively impact our communities that MHOAI is opposing contacted Terry Nelson promising future discussion.

The meetings began. There were many, and each one got longer and more heated as time progressed. Each time we had a meeting opponents talked about costs applied to moving and home value and the numbers brought forth by owner operator representatives got smaller and smaller. MHOAI ended up reminding all involved several times, this was a relocation bill, if a homeowner does not have enough money to relocate it is no longer a relocation bill.

Many issues were brought to the meetings. MHOAI disagreements with owner operators included:

• First time buyers know in advance that the land can be sold at any time and it was the homeowner’s choice to invest in a home with this knowledge.
• Present law has worked well for over three decades and there is no need to change it.
• Owner operators would loose out on profits when the land was sold.
• MHOAI can find new homes and locations for those who lose their homes.
• Businesses could not afford the finical cost of helping the many that come with a mass eviction. >li> They claim that many homeowners do not take care of their homes and feel they should not pay for any assets in the home.
• If there is still an outstanding loan on the home then it is new enough to be moved and the homeowner can do so.
• It was suggested that homeowners find their own way of dealing with this, such as selling some kind of insurance policy.

MHOAI was there to remind those in the room that we were people with lives and explained all the truths and facts that come with as mass eviction. To continue pretending a mass eviction and loss of homes does not turn families lives upside down emotional and finically can no longer be acceptable.

It can not surprise readers that many hours were spent on the subject of cost involved regarding what a homeowner should receive towards the cost of moving the home or value of the home if it can not be moved. Lobbyists for those opposing still continue to compare our homes to cars and the stigma of long ago trailers. These same people give a whole different type of description and promises when selling and financing the home to consumers and future community renters of the land.

At the last meeting owner operator lobbyists decided the latest amount of $5,000 they brought forth was now too much to pay for a move or home value. Well, that pretty much ended the discussion of these ongoing meetings. Brought to the table by several legislators from the house and senate side was that we form a state relocation commission and continue discussions over the summer. MHOAI reminded opponents that as early as 1997 we pushed to have several types of committees put in place over the years and owner operators did not show up. Our other option was to call SB 1920 in the house committee and let the cards fall as they may. At this point no one was absolutely sure which side had the majority of votes in the house.

After calling local homeowner association board members, our legislative committee, and other membership state wide asking for their input we came to a difficult decision. We would continue our efforts in the structure of a relocation commission. We included that the relocation commission stay in the form of legislation attached to SB 1920 and passed by the House. SB 1920 passed in the house with no nays. AARP and the Attorney General’s office will also be part of the relocation commission. Results of the relocation commission will be reported back by January of 2010 to legislators.