Panel advances bill to consolidate manufactured‑housing oversight, increase inspections

The House Appropriations Committee reported Senate Bill 398 favorable as amended, advancing a 51‑page package that restructures manufactured‑housing regulation and inspection in the state.

Miss Robinson read the bill. Hunter Duke, representing the Louisiana Manufactured Housing Association, said the legislation is the product of extensive negotiation and "consolidating the residential housing oversight under 1 board," moving manufactured‑housing licensees to Title 37 and increasing installation inspections statewide. He thanked Senator Foyle for his work and Brad Hazard of the Contractors Board for engagement on the measure.

Staff and sponsor said the bill creates a fund and that amendment set 5,566 aligns fund language with standard statutory language for self‑generated revenues and provides for appropriation of monies in the fund. Committee members asked questions about which office currently oversees manufactured housing and how licensing and dealer regulation intersect; Hannah Duke Greer clarified the industry historically fell under the fire marshal's office and that dealers/recreational vehicles are treated separately.

Representative Marcel moved the bill favorably as amended; with no objection the committee reported SB 398 favorable as amended.

The transcript records supportive testimony from the Louisiana Manufactured Housing Association and procedural amendments standardizing fund language; it does not include a detailed fiscal projection in the hearing record.