Committee reviews House Bill 1250 on manufactured‑home lot‑fee increases; resolution to be introduced at full meeting

Northampton County council members discussed House Bill 1250, the Manufactured Homes Community Rights Act, during the Economic Development Committee meeting on Oct. 11 and reviewed the bill’s approach to limiting annual lot‑fee increases in manufactured‑home communities.

The presenter said the bill would tie allowable annual increases to the Consumer Price Index and that the draft language referenced a floor and ceiling (the transcript referenced a 2% floor and a 4% ceiling for allowable increases). The presenter said the bill aims to protect residents of manufactured‑home parks — often seniors, veterans and people on fixed incomes — from large year‑to‑year lot‑fee increases that can reach double‑digit percentages.

Committee members debated policy and philosophical tradeoffs. One member said limiting what a private owner can charge for use of privately owned land raises concerns about government price control and the difficulty of knowing owners’ cost structures; another member recounted personal experience with a relative whose lot fee rose by 20%, forcing relocation. Several members supported sending a resolution to the county’s state legislative delegation in support of HB1250; the presenter said a resolution would be introduced at the evening’s full council meeting and requested committee backing for that action.

No committee vote was recorded during the Economic Development Committee meeting; committee members were invited to comment prior to the proposed resolution’s consideration at the full council session later the same day.