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Committee considers package of bills easing burdens on resident-owned manufactured housing communities
Summary
Multiple bills (including SB 165 and related measures) would raise audit thresholds and require resale disclosure for resident-owned communities (ROCs); proponents said the changes would reduce costs for low- and moderate-income homeowners while preserving transparency.
The committee heard several related bills affecting resident-owned communities (ROCs) in manufactured housing parks.
Senator Kevin Avard introduced SB 165, which would raise the statutory revenue threshold that triggers a required full audit for a consumer cooperative (a ROC) from $250,000 to $2,000,000, aligning ROC audit thresholds more closely with nonprofit standards. Testimony from the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund, ROC advocates, managers and resident leaders said the change would reduce a recurring, often large expense (witnesses estimated audits can cost roughly $5,000'$10,000 depending on scope), which in small communities translates into higher monthly lot fees for low- and moderate-income homeowners. Witnesses emphasized that transparency and accountability would be preserved by requiring reviews or outside-accountant engagements at intermediate revenue levels and a full audit above $2,000,000.
Senate Bill 166 would add a resale-disclosure requirement for ROCs similar to the condominium resale statute: prospective buyers would receive financial statements, reserve information, pending suits, insurance and the association's governing documents to facilitate due diligence. Realtors, sellers and buyer advocates testified that the lack of consistent access to ROC financial and reserve information can impede sales or leave buyers without needed information; supporters said SB 166 mirrors an established condo-resale approach already in state law and often used in practice.
Senate Bill 167 (a related ROC measure) was presented as substantially similar to SB 165 and aimed at the same goals of reducing audit burdens; sponsors and witnesses said many ROC boards operate as volunteer-run small businesses with thin margins and that statutory thresholds have not been updated in decades.
No committee vote on these ROC bills was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt, but committee members thanked witnesses and noted the bills as a way to preserve affordability in naturally occurring manufactured-homeownership communities.
