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‘Pass the bills,’ manufactured homeowners chant in Harrisburg <p>Residents, lawmakers, and affordable housing advocates are pressing the Pennsylvania Senate to act on manufactured home community protections that have stalled in that chamber for one year.</p>

Lawmakers and Advocates Call for Enactment of Legislation to Protect ... Lawmakers and Advocates Call for Enactment of Legislation to Protect Manufactured Home Communities June 9, 2026 HARRISBURG, PA — June 9, 2026 — Pennsylvania lawmakers joined advocates and manufactured home residents today to voice support for legislation that would protect homeowners from steep land-lot rent increases. Across the country, manufactured home communities are increasingly being purchased by private equity firms, hedge funds and multi-state corporations that then dramatically raise rates. Manufactured homeowners own their homes, but not the land beneath them, and relocating a manufactured home is often costly and difficult. As a result, homeowners living in communities purchased by private equity firms have little recourse when rates sharply increase. Many manufactured homeowners are seniors, veterans and people with disabilities who live on fixed incomes and are increasingly at risk of being priced out of their homes. Legislation has been introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly to significantly strengthen protections for residents of manufactured home communities. Proposed provisions incl…

Manufactured homeowners, property owners in limbo as legislation stalls Manufactured homeowners, property owners in limbo as legislation stalls Legislation designed to protect residents in Pennsylvania’s manufactured home communities has been stalled in committee for a year, leaving homeowners, residents, and the industry itself in limbo. Both sides have concerns, but for different reasons. Residents fear being priced out of their homes without new protections, while property owners view the proposal as rent control, warning it could create financial pressures. The bills were referred to the Republican-majority Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee last June. House Bill 1250, sponsored by Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-Blue Bell, passed the lower chamber with a 144-59 vote, including support from 42 Republicans. Its companions, Senate Bills 745 and 746, were introduced by Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Reading. Both versions would tie lot rent increases to the consumer price index, while allowing additional increases to cover extraordinary operating expenses or repairs. Manufactured homeowners typically own their homes, but not the land beneath them. Supporters of the legislation say that makes …

'Pass the bills,' manufactured homeowners chant in Harrisburg Residents, lawmakers, and affordable housing advocates are pressing the Pennsylvania Senate to act on manufactured home community protections that have stalled in that chamber for one year. Speakers at a recent press conference in Harrisburg criticized out-of-state investment and private equity firms, saying they are dramatically increasing lot rents while allowing services and upkeep to deteriorate – undermining one of the last truly affordable homeownership options available to many Pennsylvanians. Chants of “Pass the bills!” were heard throughout the event, as residents filled the Capitol Media Center to standing-room-only capacity. House Bill 1250, introduced by Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-Montgomery County, passed the House in June 2025 by a vote of 144-59. The Senate Urban Affairs & Housing Committee recently voted to advance Senate Bill 746, sponsored by state Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks County, which would give manufactured home residents the right of first refusal if their community is put up for sale. Schwank’s bill, like Hanbidge’s, would tie lot rent increases to the consumer price index, while allowing additio…

'Pass the bills' manufactured homeowners chant in Harrisburg byThe Center Square|Jun 13, 2026 Original article can be foundhere. (The Center Square) – Residents, lawmakers, and affordable housing advocates are pressing the Pennsylvania Senate to act on manufactured home community protections that have stalled in that chamber for one year. Speakers at a recent press conference in Harrisburg criticized out-of-state investment and private equity firms, saying they are dramatically increasing lot rents while allowing services and upkeep to deteriorate – undermining one of the last truly affordable homeownership options available to many Pennsylvanians. Chants of “Pass the bills!” were heard throughout theevent, as residents filled the Capitol Media Center to standing-room-only capacity. House Bill 1250, introduced by Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-Blue Bell, passed the House in June 2025 by a vote of 144-59. And the Senate Urban Affairs & Housing Committee recently voted to advanceSenate Bill 746, sponsored by Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Reading, which would give manufactured home residents the right of first refusal if their community is put up for sale. Schwank’sSenate Bill 745, like HB 1250, …

'Pass the bills' manufactured homeowners chant in Harrisburg Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Coalition of Manufactured Home Communities advisory team members Bob Besecker and Reggie Hockenberry speak with Lehigh Valley residents. Photo: Lauren Jessop / The Center Square Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save (The Center Square) – Residents, lawmakers, and affordable housing advocates are pressing the Pennsylvania Senate to act on manufactured home community protections that have stalled in that chamber for one year. Speakers at a recent press conference in Harrisburg criticized out-of-state investment and private equity firms, saying they are dramatically increasing lot rents while allowing services and upkeep to deteriorate – undermining one of the last truly affordable homeownership options available to many Pennsylvanians. Chants of “Pass the bills!” were heard throughout the event , as residents filled the Capitol Media Center to standing-room-only capacity. House Bill 1250 , introduced by Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-Blue Bell, passed the House in June 2025 by a vote of 144-59. And the Senate Urban Affairs & Housing Committee recently voted to advance Se…

Pa. manufactured homeowners, property owners in limbo as ... Bob Besecker, right, founder of The Coalition of Manufactured Home Communities of PA and Reggie Hockenberry, Coalition Advisory team member answer questions Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, during a meeting at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Upper Macungie Township where residents of several Lehigh County mobile home communities discusses the problem of rent increases.(April Gamiz/The Morning Call) By Lauren Jessop | The Center Square contributor PUBLISHED: June 5, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The Center Square — Legislation designed to protect residents in Pennsylvania’s manufactured home communities has been stalled in committee for a year, leaving homeowners, residents, and the industry itself in limbo. Both sides have concerns, but for different reasons. Residents fear being priced out of their homes without new protections, while property owners view the proposal as rent control, warning it could create financial pressures. The bills were referred to the Republican-majority Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee last June. House Bill 1250, sponsored by Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-Blue Bell, p…

Manufactured homeowners, property owners in limbo as legislation stalls Manufactured homeowners, property owners in limbo as legislation stalls Photo by Lauren Jessop/The Center Square Coalition of Manufactured Home Communities advisory team members Bob Besecker and Reggie Hockenberry speak with Lehigh Valley residents. Legislation designed to protect residents in Pennsylvania’s manufactured home communities has been stalled in committee for a year, leaving homeowners, residents, and the industry itself in limbo. Both sides have concerns, but for different reasons. Residents fear being priced out of their homes without new protections, while property owners view the proposal as rent control, warning it could create financial pressures. The bills were referred to the Republican-majority Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee last June. House Bill 1250, sponsored by Rep. Liz Hanbidge, D-Blue Bell, passed the lower chamber with a 144-59 vote, including support from 42 Republicans. Its companions, Senate Bills 745 and 746, were introduced by Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Reading. Both versions would tie lot rent increases to the consumer price index, while allowing additional increases to …