Committee advances bill to cap lot‑rent increases at 3% and expand resident purchase rights for manufactured‑home parks

St. Paul — Lawmakers advanced a broad bill (Senate File 26‑91) Thursday aimed at protecting manufactured‑home residents from steep lot‑rent increases, expanding notice and transparency when parks are for sale, and clarifying owner maintenance responsibilities.

Senator Bolden, the bill’s sponsor, told the Senate Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention the measure would impose a presumption that a rent increase above 3% is unreasonable, establish an enhanced "opportunity to purchase" process for residents and nonprofits, and require clearer owner responsibilities for common‑area maintenance and payment policies.

"This bill tackles excessive rent increases by finally defining what is reasonable — no more than 3% annually — and creates real opportunities for residents to purchase their parks," Bolden said in opening remarks.

The hearing drew a large and sometimes emotional group of testifiers. Resident witnesses described recent rent spikes and management practices they said threaten longtime homeowners. Andres…