Capitol Update – May 18, 2023
By Chris Wysocki
State Budget Deficit is at $31.5 Billion, Could Climb Higher
Last Friday, the Governor released his revised State Budget, and the results were not surprising to many. When the Governor released his initial budget proposal in January, the budget deficit was approximately $22 billion. That figure grew to approximately $31.5 billion in his revised budget document, but the Legislative Analyst’s Office expects the structural deficit to reach $41 billion by the 2026-27 budget year if the Governor’s May revision is adopted as proposed.
To view the Legislative Analyst’s Office report on the May revision to the 2023-24 State Budget, please click on the following link:
lao.ca.gov/Publications/Report/4769
Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees Act on Fiscal Bills
Both the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees acted upon several key bills affecting manufactured housing. These decisions were made after learning about the state’s fiscal condition in the released May revision to the State Budget. Here is an update on some of the most relevant legislative proposals WMA has been tracking:
Assembly Bill 318 (Addis, D-Morro Bay)
STATUS: Passed to the Assembly Floor
This bill would have initially made the Mobilehome Residency Law Protection Program permanent, but after WMA successfully worked to have the Joint Legislative Audit Committee approve an audit of the program that is expected to be done by the end of this year, the bill was amended to extend the program for three years. WMA has argued that a three-year extension is still too long, and arguments have been made to shorten the extension to one year to allow the State Auditor to do its job and report its findings to the Legislature in 2024.
To view Assembly Bill 318, click here:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB318
Assembly Bill 319 (Connolly, D-San Rafael)
STATUS: Passed to the Assembly Floor
This bill would require inspectors employed by the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to file Statements of Economic Interest documents with the Secretary of State to disclose investments in properties near mobilehome parks they inspect. The bill also extends the Mobilehome Parks Act (MPA) that is set to expire in 2024 by one year. WMA is supportive of this measure, and it awaits action by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.
To view Assembly Bill 319, click here:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB319
Assembly Bill 1334 (Pellerin, D-Santa Cruz)
STATUS: Passed to the Assembly Floor
This legislation would allow parkowners who want to build new spaces in their parks to be exempt from local taxes and fees as long as the number is limited to ten percent or less of the total number of spaces currently permitted. This bill will allow for more housing opportunities in manufactured housing communities.
To view Assembly Bill 1334, click here:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1334
Keep Current on Legislative Measures
In addition to the bills listed above, WMA is actively tracking many other legislative proposals. To learn more about these other measures and to learn how you can become more involved in supporting and opposing legislation affecting the manufactured housing communities across California, please click on the following link:
This past week, WMA mailed out membership dues renewal statements. Please be sure to check your mailboxes and renew your dues to continue maintaining the many benefits your WMA membership affords.
Some of these benefits include access to our Service & Industry Directory which includes vendors specializing in ADA Compliance, appraisal services, asphalt maintenance, attorneys, billing services, computer services, financial and lending services, insurance services, management services, manufactured home sales, and utility contractors to name just a few.
WMA Membership also includes access to manager training education and access to forms required by state law. These renewal dues also come with an appeal for political action, and our Political Action Committee (PAC) has helped elect numerous legislators who share our common belief in private property rights. So when you renew your membership, please make an effort to participate in the WMA PAC.
As always, WMA strives to provide valuable programs and services for its members, and we appreciate your continued support. To learn how to join WMA, please click on the following link:
It is an honor to serve WMA, and please feel free to call me on my direct line at 916 288.4026 with any questions.
