Committee advances bill limiting large corporate ownership of manufactured-home communities after heated debate

The House Housing Committee on Feb. 20 moved substitute House Bill 17‑68 out of committee with a due‑pass recommendation after more than two hours of debate over ownership limits for manufactured‑home communities.

The substitute limits an investment or business entity that already has an interest in more than five manufactured housing communities or 200 lots from obtaining additional ownership interests, while preserving a list of exemptions for community land trusts, resident nonprofit cooperatives, local housing authorities, federally recognized tribes and certain nonprofit preservation organizations. The bill also ties violations to civil enforcement under the state Consumer Protection Act and, as amended in committee, permits increased civil penalties for failure to comply with a court order.

Why it matters: Manufactured‑home communities supply some of the most affordable…