Lawmakers Return – Redistricting Fight and Appropriations Committees Dominate News

 When lawmakers were elected last year to serve in the 2025-26 Legislature, nobody could have imagined the chaos that would come.  First, we had the Los Angeles wildfires that forever changed the lives of tens of thousands of people.  Then we had a change in the federal government with Donald Trump becoming President after he campaigned on issues antithetical to many progressive liberals in Sacramento.  Following that was the budget deficit of at least $12 billion with forecast deficits of roughly $20 billion a year for the next several years. 
 
This past week, the latest twist came when Democrats in the Legislature came back from their month-long summer recess and voted to put a measure on the ballot in a special election to be held in November. The measure involved redrawing the districts of California’s 52 congressional districts, setting aside the maps that were created after the last United States Census in 2020 by the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission. 
 
This unprecedented move was made at the request of Governor Gavin Newsom, who was upset that Texas was doing a mid-decade redistricting plan to create up to five congressional seats that lean Republican.
 
The level of partisan tension in Sacramento this year was high.  Gone were the normal pleasantries that normally occur when people return from summer recess.  There were no “how was your summer” conversations or “did you get some rest” comments to be heard.  The tension was high, and civility was difficult to find.
 
With approximately 1,100 bills to be acted on over the next 15 days of legislative session, and with nearly 600 bills to be decided by the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees, the days will be long, and people will be on edge.  This is not exactly the type of environment that lends itself to constructive conversations and bipartisanship. 
 
But they will get through it, and lawmakers are mostly eager to stop talking about national politics and start focusing on their bills.  The test will be if the hostility that came with redistricting carries over to other business facing the Legislature as lawmakers sprint toward the end of session on September 12.
 
Update on Key Bills of Interest Still Moving
 
Over the past year, there were over 25 bills that WMA actively worked on, and we were successful on many fronts.  The two bills currently alive that would have the most impact on WMA members are SB 749 (Allen, D-Santa Monica) and AB 806 (Connolly, D-San Rafael).  Here is a summary of where these two bills are:
 
AB 806 (Connolly, D – San Rafael)
This bill would have originally required park management to approve a resident’s request to install a cooling system in their individual home.  More importantly, it would have required parks to maintain and operate a cooling center in a common area of the park on days a heat warning is issued by the National Weather Service. 
 
WMA was able to convince the author to amend his bill to remove the entire section regarding cooling centers and require that residents obtain permits for cooling systems to ensure the increased load can be handled by a lot’s electrical panel.
 
AB 806 has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file, but we will know on August 29 whether the bill moves forward or not. Based on the amendments adopted, WMA has changed its position on the bill from “oppose” to “neutral.”
 
Click here to read the language of AB 806.

SB 749 (Allen, D – Santa Monica)
 
This bill, if passed, would effectively stop parkowners from being able to sell their park, close their park, or change the use of their park without first giving a resident organization or other nonprofit organization a chance to purchase the park at a price that would ultimately be decided by an appraiser approved by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). 
 
Senator Allen introduced this bill after the Palisades Fire destroyed two mobilehome parks in his district, and his goal was to force the owners to rebuild their parks instead of selling the land to another party. 
 
SB 749 was referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee as it would require HCD to expend substantial resources.  WMA is working to convince the Appropriations Committee to hold the bill on suspense and not approve its passage to the Assembly floor for consideration.  We will know on August 29 if this bill will advance or die.
 
Click here to read the language of SB 749.

To keep up to date on legislation affecting WMA members, please click here.

Appropriations Committees Refer Hundreds of Bills to Suspense Calendar
 
This past week, the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees referred hundreds of bills to the “Suspense File,” which will be dispensed with on August 29.  These bills have been judged to have a material impact on the state’s general fund, and the next two weeks will be consumed with lawmakers and lobbyists trying to persuade the fiscal committees to either hold bills in committee (which means they will be dead for the year) or release them to the full Senate or Assembly for consideration. 
 
The Appropriations Committee process is perhaps the last vestige of “smoke-filled back rooms” in the Capitol, as only a few select people are privy to the rationale for holding or releasing bills from committee.  Many of the bills supported and opposed by WMA are on the Suspense File, and we will be spending the next couple of weeks making our case for passage or defeat of these bills.
 
HCD Announces New Draft Regulations Changing Mobilehome Parks Act
 
Late last week, HCD announced new proposed rules to amend the Mobilehome Parks Act and the Special Occupancy Parks Act.  The proposed regulations would amend Title 25 in several ways, and the draft regulations are open to public comment until September 30, 2025.  WMA is currently working on a comprehensive comment letter on the proposed changes, and we encourage our members to review the proposed draft regulations and submit their own comments.
 
Click here to read the notice of proposed action.

Click here to read express terms of the draft regulations.

If you have any specific questions about these proposed regulations, please contact the Housing Regulations Team at 916.841.5286 or email Title25@hcd.ca.gov.
 
Register for the WMA Convention & Expo Online Today!
 
WMA is thrilled to invite you to be among the first to register, sponsor, or exhibit at the 2025 WMA Convention & Expo.  Get exclusive discounts and special perks when you become a member.  Don’t miss your chance to secure your spot at this premier event – let’s make 2025 unforgettable forever as WMA celebrates its 80th anniversary at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino in Reno, Nevada on October 6-9.
 
To learn how to register and create an account with our new website, click here and follow the instructions.  Once you are logged into our new website, you can register online for the Convention & Expo, the golf tournament, and much more.

General Remarks
 
The final weeks of session can be frenetic and tense.  This year is no different, and lawmakers are busy working on their bills.  Many bills will pass, some will die, and many more will be amended.  With approximately 1,100 bills still alive, get ready for surprises. The good news is that the Legislature will adjourn for the year on September 12. 
 
It is an honor to serve the hard-working men and women who make up WMA. Please feel free to call me at 916.288.4026, or email me at chris@wma.org with any questions about legislation or public policy.