Assembly committee approves temporary allowance for mobile‑home parks to rent park‑owned homes after declared natural disasters

The Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee voted to pass AB 760 as amended, a bill that would temporarily allow mobile‑home park owners to rent units they own to people who lost homes in governor‑declared natural disasters.

The bill’s author, identified in committee as Assemblymember Ta, and supporters said the measure would be limited to disasters such as fires, floods and earthquakes and would last for a six‑month period in jurisdictions under a declaration of emergency. "This bill will temporarily allow park owners to rent out homes they own in parks to people who lost everything because of a natural disaster," said Chris Wysocki of the West Manufactured Housing Association (WMA), who testified in support.

A committee amendment, the author said, clarified that the temporary suspension would apply only for weather‑ or geologic‑related disasters (fire, flood, earthquake) and not for public‑health emergencies such as the COVID‑19 pandemic. The amendment also extends the district of application to counties or cities adjacent to an impacted jurisdiction, which proponents said would increase the number of available units for displaced residents.

Supporters described a frequent real‑world scenario: parks often own newer homes meant for resale after managers remove abandoned or unsafe units; those homes are typically sold but are not permitted to be leased under some current local rules. WMA told the committee that a park with multiple park‑owned homes in Norwalk sought to rent them to displaced residents after nearby fires but was prevented under existing restrictions.

No witnesses in the hearing room registered opposition to AB 760 during the committee discussion. Committee members expressed general support for using existing mobile‑home stock to supply quick housing after disasters.

On a roll call, the committee recorded an 8–0 vote to pass AB 760 as amended (one member recorded as not voting). The committee kept the item open for any final administrative follow‑up.