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A landmark victory for Oregon's manufactured housing residents has been secured with the razor-thin passage of House Bill 3054. Passing by just a single vote—which remarkably included Republican support—this legislation represents a true "David and Goliath" triumph against powerful industry interests.

The bill, awaiting the governor's signature, includes an emergency clause making it effective this September rather than next year. For residents of larger manufactured housing facilities (30+ spaces), rent increases will now be capped at 6% annually, down from the previous 10%. The legislation includes a provision for infrastructure improvements allowing a 12% increase once every five years with tenant approval—still less over time than the previous cap. Smaller facilities will remain at the 10% limit.

Beyond rent control, HB 3054 eliminates problematic landlord practices that created barriers for manufactured homeowners. Landlords can no longer demand aesthetic improvements or internal inspections as conditions for home sales within facilities. Additionally, when homes are sold but remain on the same space, landlords cannot increase rent for new tenants by more than 10% above what previous owners paid—closing a significant loophole in existing protections.

The success of this legislation stems from remarkable community organizing and key legislative champions. Representative Pam Marsh spearheaded the effort, with Senator Jeff Golden becoming a powerful advocate as public engagement grew. One volunteer alone distributed 1,000 flyers, while countless others made calls and wrote letters. As Bill Bateman from the Oregon State Tenants Association noted, quoting the Rolling Stones: "You can't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need."

Join us at our community celebration planned for October 1st, where we'll connect advocates, volunteers, and legislators who made this victory possible. This win proves that organized communities can create meaningful change—will you be part of what comes next?

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HB 3054A has reached the Oregon Senate floor for its final vote, representing a critical protection for 62,000 manufactured homeowners against excessive rent increases that force seniors and families from their communities.

• Bill protects manufactured home residents who own their homes but rent the land underneath
• Many residents are seniors on fixed incomes who chose manufactured home living for affordability
• Corporate ownership and profit-maximizing rent increases have destroyed housing security
• HB 3054A caps annual rent increases at 6%, down from the current 10%
• Bill stops forced aesthetic upgrades that can block home sales
• Legislation prohibits invasive interior inspections as a condition of sale
• The bill has already passed the Oregon House with strong community support
• Senate vote is imminent, and your senator needs to hear from you

Contact your senator and ask them to vote 'yes' on HB 3054A. Even if your call comes in after the vote, they'll know that many concerned voters are watching this issue.

Here is a link to where to find your Senator's Number:

https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/senate/Pages/SenatorsAll.aspx

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The fight for manufactured home residents' rights takes center stage as HB 3054 faces critical hurdles in the Oregon Senate. Fresh from testifying at the Salem hearing, there's cautious optimism that the bill can clear committee with support from Senator Jeff Golden and Representative Marsh, though the path through the full Senate remains challenging due to partisan opposition and anti-rent control sentiments.

Your voice matters more than ever. Residents in Bend, North Washington County, and the Hillsboro-Forest Grove areas are encouraged to contact Senators Anthony Broadman, Kate Lieber, and Janine Solman. When reaching out, emphasize the real harm caused by unchecked rent increases: emotional distress, choosing between housing and necessities like food or medication, and dealing with illegal coercion from park management.

The disconnect between resident experiences and industry claims was on full display at the hearing, with opponents suggesting "only 2-3% of park owners are bad actors" – a statement that drew skepticism given widespread reports of predatory practices. Equally concerning are unauthorized inspection demands before home sales, which residents should know are not legally enforceable under Oregon statutes. Having these laws printed and ready when dealing with management can prevent intimidation tactics.

With seniors representing 25% of the population in counties like Jackson, this issue disproportionately affects our most vulnerable neighbors living on fixed incomes. The time for decisive action is now – submit your testimony, contact your representatives, and spread awareness in your communities. Information is power; together, manufactured home residents can secure the protections they deserve.

Senator Anthony Broadman District Map (Bend)

Senator Kate Lieber District Map (North Washington County)

Senator Janeen Sollman District Map (Hillsboro, Forest Grove)

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The countdown is on! With just four days remaining until the critical State Senate hearing on housing legislation, the Oregon State Tenants Association is rallying supporters statewide to make their voices heard. This pivotal moment represents the culmination of years of organizing and advocacy work that could significantly impact tenant protections throughout Oregon.

In this urgent update, Bill Bateman provides essential information about the Wednesday, May 7th, hearing at the State Capitol, emphasizing the importance of submitting testimony and the power of physical presence. The iconic "cow hats" that made such an impression during previous legislative actions are encouraged again - a visual reminder that tenants refuse to be treated as mere sources of profit. Practical advice for attendees includes wearing sensible shoes (Salem isn't exactly parking-friendly!), bringing necessities like water, and preparing for whatever the day might bring.

Beyond showing up, this update offers strategic guidance for maximizing impact through direct communication with legislators. Individual emails that identify you as a constituent carry significant weight, particularly when directed to members of the Senate Housing Committee. The message is clear: now is the time to act, whether through written testimony, in-person appearance, or direct outreach to decision-makers. This isn't just another hearing - it's a potential turning point for tenant rights in Oregon.

Ready to make a difference? Links to testimony submission forms and senator contact information are below. Join OSTA at the Capitol on May 7th and help fill the building with supporters standing up for housing justice. Be there, be part of it, be part of the solution!

Here is the link to submit the Written Testimony

Here is the link to register for Oral Testimony

Senate Committee on Housing and Development
(The overview page with each member listed. Click to contact them.)

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The affordable housing crisis has reached a tipping point in the Pacific Northwest, with a ray of hope emerging from Washington state. After years of advocacy, Washington lawmakers have approved a crucial 10% cap on annual rent increases, countering the alarming 43% rise in median residential rents (adjusted for inflation) that has far outpaced the modest 26% growth in renters' incomes between 2001 and 2023.

Now Oregon faces its moment of truth. With House Bill 34 scheduled for a critical Senate Committee hearing on May 7th, manufactured home residents have just eight days to mobilize and finalize similar protections. The Oregon State Tenants Association (OSTA) is continuing a multi-faceted campaign to ensure resident voices break through the noise. Park owners are organizing significant opposition, making resident participation essential to balance the narrative with lived experiences.

The path forward is clear but requires immediate action. Contact your state senators with personalized stories about how uncapped rent increases threaten your housing security. Sign up to provide testimony – in person, virtually, or in writing. For those able to travel to Salem, OSTA hopes to organize a rally before the hearing to recreate the powerful showing from previous efforts when supporters filled the main hearing room and two overflow halls. Remember the words that drive this movement: "What are you prepared to do?" This is the culmination of nearly two years of advocacy work, and your voice could make the difference between success and failure. Visit the OSTA website for resources, senator contact information, and continuous updates as this critical deadline approaches.

Find your Oregon State Senator

Senate Committee on Housing & Development

Chair Senator Khanh Pham, sen.khanhpham@oregonlegislature.gov
Vice-Chair Senator Dick Anderson, sen.khanhpham@oregonlegislature.gov

Member Senator Anthony Broadman, sen.anthonybroadman@oregonlegislature.gov

Member Senator Todd Nash, sen.toddnash@oregonlegislature.gov

Member Senator Deb Patterson, Sen.DebPatterson@oregonlegislature.gov​

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Deceptive tactics are being deployed against manufactured home residents across Oregon, with park owners circulating misleading videos to undermine tenant protections as crucial legislation hangs in the balance. Bill Bateman, president of the Oregon State Tenants Association (OSTA), shares some encouraging news about HB 3054A narrowly passing the House before diving into a troubling development affecting communities statewide.

At the heart of this episode is an attorney's detailed analysis of a video being distributed to manufactured home parks – a video riddled with false statements about tenant rights. The breakdown reveals how park owners are misrepresenting fundamental legal protections, including incorrectly claiming that rental agreements require 60-day termination notices (when Oregon law stipulates just 30 days), denying the existence of the 10% rent increase cap, and falsely asserting that agreements would remain unchanged even if laws are modified. These claims directly contradict established Oregon statutes that protect tenant rights.

Perhaps most concerning are the high-pressure tactics employed – artificial deadlines, psychological manipulation making tenants feel unintelligent if they don't understand complex agreements, and questionable tax practices requiring W-9 forms for "rent credits" that may constitute tax fraud. As Bateman powerfully notes, "These are times that people are clawing and grasping to hang on to their hold on your pocketbook and your lives." With HB 3054A now headed to the Senate, this episode serves as a crucial warning for all manufactured home residents to stay vigilant, understand their rights, and recognize when seemingly generous offers are actually designed to strip away long-term protections. Share this episode with anyone living in a manufactured home community – knowledge is the strongest defense against these underhanded tactics.

Written Review

Video Presentation

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The fight for mobile home residents' rights hangs by a thread in Oregon as HB 3054 narrowly passed the House Housing Committee on a straight party-line vote. Had just one Democrat voted differently, the bill would have failed, highlighting the precarious position of tenant protections in manufactured housing communities.

Behind these legislative battles are real people facing increasingly aggressive tactics from park owners and management companies. From arbitrary demands to remove decade-old landscaping to the elimination of promised amenities like laundry facilities, residents across Oregon report troubling patterns of overreach that threaten their security and quality of life. Most alarming are situations like the one developing in Forest Grove, where allegations of assault and intoxicated threats have created an atmosphere of fear among community members.

These challenges underscore why OSTA (Oregon State Tenants Association) continues advocating for stronger protections. Far too often, park owners implement unilateral rule changes or ignore infrastructure problems like flooding with apparent impunity, believing residents don't know their rights under Oregon law. But knowledge is power, and as HB 3054 A moves to the House floor, now is the critical moment for residents and allies to make their voices heard. Contact your representatives today – thank those who support fair housing protections and respectfully engage with those who oppose them. Your home and community depend on it.

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Affordable housing represents one of the most pressing challenges for manufactured home residents across Oregon, with many facing rent increases of 10% annually that have doubled their housing costs in just five years. In this crucial update, OSTA board member Rochelle Love Elder joins Bill Bateman to break down the proposed changes in House Bill 3054 that could dramatically improve affordability for vulnerable residents.

The current system allows landlords to increase rents by 7% plus CPI annually (capped at 10%), but HB 3054 would create a flat 6% annual increase cap—nearly cutting potential increases in half. Through detailed numerical examples, Rochelle demonstrates how even with a controversial provision allowing an additional 12% increase every five years for major infrastructure (subject to tenant approval), residents would still pay substantially less over time. A ten-year scenario shows the difference between a staggering 159% cumulative increase under current law versus a more manageable 89% under the proposed legislation.

The podcast delves into concerns about implementation, enforcement, and the need for "guardrails" to ensure maintenance obligations aren't delayed to justify larger increases later. We also explore how the bill creates exceptions for smaller parks with fewer than 30 units, targeting corporate investment firms while protecting responsible "mom and pop" operations. With critical votes happening soon and key Democratic legislators still undecided, your voice matters now. Contact your representatives, especially those in Clackamas County, to help ensure this crucial affordability measure passes before time runs out in this legislative session.

Want to help protect affordable manufactured housing in your community? Call your representatives today, research your park's financial information online, and stay engaged in the fight for reasonable rent controls.

Phone: Rep April Dobson: 503-986-1439
Email: Rep.AprilDobson@oregonlegislature.gov

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