Past Legislative Initiatives
Several lawmakers introduced bills in 2010, 2023, and 2025 to protect homeowners in manufactured home communities (MHCs). This effort will continue. Please join with other New Mexican MHC homeowners, housing advocates, and allies to protect the rights of residents in their communities. The following describes efforts to date.
2010
Representative Bill O’Neill from Albuquerque introduced HB 129, MOBILE HOME PROPERTY FIRST RIGHT OF REFUSAL, which would have provided homeowners in MHCs the right of first refusal if the community land were to be sold. In addition to a right of first refusal, HB129 extended the departure date for residents required to vacate if they had children in school to allow for the completion of the school year. The bill was referred to the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee, where it died without a vote.
2023
SB298 MOBILE HOME PARK ACT CHANGES was cosponsored by Senators Bill O’Neill from Albuquerque and Senator Siah Correa Hemphill from Silver City. SB298 provided an opportunity for homeowners in a community to purchase the community land if the landowner wanted to sell. It would have limited rent increases to 3% plus any increase in the consumer price index (CPI), and it provided additional protections against unfair evictions. It would have raised the civil penalty for violations of the act from $500 to $10,000 and given the attorney general the authority to enforce it. It is a reasonable estimate that at least half of the land and business owners in MHCs do not comply with New Mexico’s Mobile Home Park Act (MHPA), which has never been enforced since it was enacted in 1983. SB298 was referred to the Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee, where it died without a vote. In 2023, no tenant protection bill made it to the floor of either chamber. All died in committees.
2025
In 2025, three separate bills were introduced in the New Mexico House:
HB418, MOBILE HOME RENTAL AGREEMENTS & LANDLORDS, was introduced by Representative Cristina Parajon and Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero and had several consumer protection provisions. One provision specifically granted New Mexico’s Attorney General the authority to investigate and enforce the Mobile Home Park Act of 1983, an authority that the Attorney General claims not to have. HB418 passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, but died along the way and was never heard. Representatives Joanne Ferrary, Andrea Romero, Angelica Rubio, and Elizabeth Thomson voted in favor of it. Representatives John Block and Stefani Lord voted against it.
HB442, MOBILE HOME RENT STABILIZATION, was introduced by Representative Marian Matthews, Representative Christina Parajon, and Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero. All too often, the fact that people cannot move their homes is the only reason that rents increase, which leaves some people with no option but to abandon their homes and their most sizable investment. HB442 would have provided rent stabilization for people living in land-lease communities by limiting rent increases to once a year and not more than 3% for the first year and until a study was conducted. The bill would have required a task force to study the issues during the rent restriction period. HB442 also would have provided penalties if landlords do not properly repair utility outages (something that homeowners in Alamogordo and Los Alamos communities suffered through in late 2024). HB442 passed the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee thanks to the affirmative votes from: Representatives Joanne Ferrary, Angelica Rubio, and Elizabeth Thomson. Representatives John Block and Stefani Lord voted against it. HB442 then moved to the House Judiciary Committee. There, it was unlikely to pass unless it was replaced with a weaker, less consumer-friendly version. The substitute bill relied on a recommendation from the proposed work group chair, the Superintendent of Regulation and Licensing. This chair oversees the construction industries, including manufactured housing, and represents the interests opposed to tenant protections, particularly land-lease community investors, who were the bill’s most vigorous opponents. The weakened bill passed the House Judiciary Committee but died before it reached the House Floor. The Judiciary Committee vote: Representatives Christine Chandler, Michelle Paulene Abeyta, Dayan Hochman-Vigil, Javier Martínez, and Reena Szczepanski voted yes. The following representatives voted against HB442: Representatives Andrea Reeb, Nicole Chavez, and William A. Hall II.
HB426, MOBILE HOME PARK SALE NOTICES (Opportunity to Purchase) was introduced with eight sponsors: Representative Parajon was the primary sponsor, along with Representative Matthews, Representative Andrea Romero, Representative Sarah Silva, Representative Patricia Roybal Caballero, Representative Meredith Dixon, Representative Linda Serrato, and Senator Antonio Maestas. Similar to HB129 introduced in 2010 and SB298 introduced in 2023, HB426 would have given homeowners in land-lease communities the opportunity to buy the land under their homes. HB426 went first to the House Commerce & Economic Development Committee where it underwent changes to the timelines, such as 75 days for residents to make an offer to purchase rather than 90 days. The substitute bill passed with affirmative votes from Representatives Janelle Anyanonu, Doreen Y. Gallegos, Derrick J. Lente, Marian Matthews, Cristina Parajón, and Linda Serrato. The following representatives voted against giving homeowners an opportunity to purchase the land under their homes: Gail Armstrong, Art De La Cruz, Joshua N. Hernandez, Jimmy G. Mason, Mark B. Murphy. HB426 was then referred to the House Judiciary Committee, where it also passed thanks to: Representatives Christine Chandler, Michelle Paulene Abeyta, William A. Hall II, Dayan Hochman-Vigil, Andrea Romero, and Reena Szczepanski. The following representatives voted against giving homeowners an opportunity to purchase the land under their homes: Nicole Chavez, Alan T. Martinez, and Andrea Reeb. On March 17, 2025, HB426 Passed in the House of Representatives. The vote was: Y:37 N:26 HB426 was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee where it died without being heard.
HB426 New Mexico House of Representatives Final Vote
LEMHOA will continue to fight for these causes until our elected representatives recognize their importance and are willing to take meaningful action.