Bay to Bay News | by Craig Anderson
Lawmakers are one step closer to providing increased rent protection for residents of manufactured-housing communities after legislation passed in the Delaware Senate on Thursday.
Senate Bill 317 — recently known as Senate Substitution 1 for SB 9 — would regulate rent increases for residents of these communities, reduce the number of resident disputes, set clear limits on payment increases, strengthen the enforcement of health and safety standards, and expand eligibility for rent-assistance programs.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jack Walsh, D-Stanton, is a duplicate to SS 1 for SB 9. It was introduced Wednesday in coordination with additional sponsors, Rep. Paul Baumbach, D-Newark, and House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, after the proposal momentarily failed in the House Manufactured Housing Committee.
That vote did not include all the members, as Rep. Longhurst was unable to attend due to a conflicting meeting of the Administration Committee, which she chairs. Since it did not receive votes from the entire group, Sen. Walsh reintroduced the legislation after receiving commitment from House leadership to sign off on it.
On Thursday, SB 317 passed with 18 yes votes and one no, with one not voting and one absent. Prior to the Senate vote, its Minority Leader Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View, stated his intention to not vote due to a conflict of interest. The lone dissenting vote came from Sen. Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, while Sen. Dave Lawson, R-Marydel, was absent.
During Wednesday’s Manufactured Housing Committee meeting, chair Rep. John Kowalko, D-Newark, expressed his concern with SS 1 for SB 9, stating that SB 132, introduced last year, provided a better alternative because it leveled the playing field for homeowners and came after extensive negotiations.
He said that bill, sponsored by Sen. Ennis, never received a hearing. Rep. Baumbach claimed it did, stating it was heard for over an hour in a committee hearing May 20 of last year, but it was not released because it didn’t have the required support of members.
Rep. Kowalko said he was not consulted during any discussions regarding SS 1 for SB 9 and expressed his concern that the legislation could provide challenges due to the “unique” financial circumstances the country is facing.
Regardless, a motion to release prompted a vote, which received support from three members of the committee. It was opposed by three others, all additional sponsors of SB 132.
With Rep. Longhurst absent, the bill failed to receive the needed support, and while committee members pleaded to give her the chance to vote, Rep. Kowalko did not guarantee she would be given the opportunity. Therefore, SS 1 for SB 9 failed to be released to the full House floor.
However, at Thursday’s Senate chamber meeting, Sen. Walsh said the identical version, SB 317, would be heard in the House Administration Committee after the agreement with Rep. Longhurst.
“This chamber had felt it unanimously voted on this piece of legislation that was so important and so inclusive to all parties, landowners, the Delaware Manufactured Home Relocation Authority, the Community Legal Aid Society. We had worked on this bill for years and years, and we have a very comprehensive piece of legislation that did not get the chance to get a full committee vote yesterday,” he said.
After SB 317 passed in the Senate, its Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown, thanked Sen. Walsh for his continued work.
“This is very important. This was the epitome of teamwork. I’ve always got a saying: If everybody leaves the room hurting the same amount, then it’s a good compromise. And I think this was a good compromise bill,” Sen. Pettyjohn said.
“This is something that was agreed to by everybody, and thank you for doing this so that we can move this piece of legislation through.”
If the House Administration Committee passes SB 317, it will be considered by the entire House chamber. Approval there would send the legislation to Gov. John Carney for his signature.