Iowa Senate Democrats

Tag: Zach Wahls

  • Iowans bring fight for their homes to Capitol

    Iowa Senate News Release

    WHAT: News Conference with the Iowa Manufactured Home Resident’s Network
    WHERE: Room 315, Iowa State Capitol
    WHEN: 11 a.m., Wednesday, February 19, 2020
    WHO: Manufactured home residents from around the state

    (DES MOINES) – Residents from manufactured home parks from across the state will meet at the Capitol in Des Moines on Wednesday to continue the fight for their homes by sharing their stories with Iowa lawmakers.

    The Iowa Manufactured Home Resident’s Network is a coalition of residents and allies who are committed to providing a voice to residents of manufactured home communities across the state.

    This week some of those residents will be raising those voices in Des Moines, as important legislation works its way through the Iowa House and Senate.  The bill (SF 2238/HF 2351) is an important first step toward providing checks and balances in a currently one-sided system, a system that is attracting unscrupulous private equity firms to the state as it drives Iowans out of their homes.

    The residents will hold a press conference at 11 am in Room 315 at the Iowa Capitol. Speakers will include manufactured home residents from around the state.

    Senator Wahls speaks in the Chamber about need for reforms

    News conference speakers and video of remarks

    Candi Evans, Golfview Residents Association, North Liberty

    • Park purchased by Havenpark in 2019 – I found out from notice taped to my door of rent increase …
    • Who’s in our community / we are real people
    • Our journey in the past year: from outrageous rent increases, to finding out Havenpark is private investor group from Utah, to first meeting of residents to months of work to get our voices heard, to a bill now under discussion to finally create some of the protections all Iowa manufactured homeowners should have had a long time ago
    • Why we need this bill … we have residents here from at least 7 different parks across Iowa who will share part of their stories with us today

    Angela Smith, Park Plaza Manufactured Home Park, Muscatine

    • Park purchased by Impact in 2019
    • Major rent increases and water overcharges (example) – then because we started to speak up and got help from our city and our municipal utility, the owners are starting to refund the overcharges
    • I’m worried it will happen again unless we get legal protection
    • We need this bill to protect all Iowa residents against fraud and unfair utility charges

    Jenny Heishman, Grinnell Manufactured Home Park, Grinnell

    • Story of trailer purchase and grandparents’ living situation
    • Park purchased by Impact in 2013
    • Since then, our lot rent has increased over 200%
    • We need this bill to protect proud, hardworking Iowans like my grandparents

    Carrie Presley, Table Mound Residents Association, Dubuque

    • Park purchased by Impact in 2017

    Margarita Rodriguez, Forest View Residents’ Association, Iowa City

    • Park sold to developer in 2016
    • With developer as our park owner, there is now no maintenance of park anymore; conditions deteriorating and unsafe
    • Sewers aren’t repaired. Potholes aren’t fixed. And there is no one for us to turn to.
    • We need this bill to create a way for residents to hold owners accountable for safe conditions in our parks, no matter who owns our parks in the future.

    Matt Chapman, Midwest Country Estates, Waukee

    • Waukee residents facing rent increases / who lives in my park
    • Park purchased by Havenpark in 2019
    • Part of national trend, private equity groups taking advantage of residents
    • Who are these owners who are trying to keep us from getting this bill passed?
    • The Iowa Manufactured Homes Association is one of the only opponents to this bill. They have “Iowa” in their name, but they are choosing to represent Havenpark and other out-of-state park owners against the interest of Iowans. In fact, we now know that Impact CEO Frank Rolfe sits on their board. Impact is headquartered in Colorado and now owns at least 23 parks in Iowa. Their CEO Frank Rolfe is the same man who famously told investors that a mobile home park “is like a Waffle House where the customers are chained to their booths.”
    • We need this bill to prevent the Frank Rolfe’s of the world targeting Iowa residents as easy marks for their quick profits.

    State Senator Zach Wahls, D-Coralville

    Senator Wahls offered an update on the current status of manufactured housing legislation traveling through both chambers. The House and Senate have introduce bipartisan bills intended to protect manufactured home owners. He clarified that this is not an issue of parks being sold for redevelopment. Out-of-state owners are eyeing mobile home parks as an opportunity to profit from the vulnerability of disabled or low-income people.

  • Mobile Home Bill Filed

    On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of senators filed a bill to protect Iowans who own manufactured homes. Senate File 2238 garnered 30 Senate cosponsors—15 Republicans and 15 Democrats.

    The House filed a “companion” bill (i.e., the same bill). The first public hearing on House File 2351 will be 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17 in room 19.

    The legislation would update Iowa Code Chapter 562B to be fairer and curb predatory practices with four changes to Iowa law:

    1. Eviction: Require “good cause” for eviction.

    2. Rent increases: Mandate 180-days’ notice of rent increases, limit increases to once per year and require an explanation if the increase is more than the rate of inflation.

    3. Enforcement: Give the Iowa Attorney General authority to enforce the mobile home park laws under the Consumer Fraud Act.

    4. Equity: Provide mobile homeowners the same protections afforded apartment renters.

  • Protect Iowans living in manufactured homes

    By State Sen. Zach Wahls, Coralville (Senate District 37)

                My top legislative priority in 2020 is affordable housing, starting by finishing the work begun last year to protect Iowans who live in manufactured homes. This is an issue that affects both rural Iowa and urban Iowa, as virtually every county in Iowa has at least one manufactured housing community, if not several.

                I’m intentional about using the phrase “manufactured homes,” but you may hear them referred to as “mobile homes” or “trailers.” However, most “mobile” homes are not in fact “mobile.” Moving the homes that can be moved typically costs $2,000 to $5,000. That’s a lot of money.

                Over the last year, you may have read news reports about out-of-state companies moving into Iowa, purchasing manufactured housing communities (or MHCs) and increasing the rent by as much as 70%. The problem of out-of-state companies coming into Iowa, purchasing trailer parks and jacking up the rent has been unusually pronounced in this senate district, and I hear about this concern at virtually every event I hold. Havenpark Capital—the Utah-based investment group that infamously raised the rent on multiple Iowa manufactured housing communities by more than 60% last year—has purchased parks in all three counties I represent in the past year.

                Last April, in response to this growing crisis, the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan bill I helped craft to take the first steps in protecting Iowans who own manufactured homes. Unfortunately, that bill did not pass the House, because we were so short on time that we could not reach a compromise before adjournment.

                During the “interim” period from April 2019 to January 2020, a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives has been meeting to discuss this issue. Both Representative Bobby Kaufmann and I are taking part in these negotiations. We are working to develop comprehensive legislation that will protect vulnerable Iowans from predatory landlords while also ensuring that local mom-and-pop owner-operators acting in good faith are not harmed. It is important that we protect all Iowans from predatory behavior while making sure we do not harm the ability of good actors to offer this affordable housing option.

                During our review of this issue over the interim period, I was shocked to learn that people who rent apartments actually have stronger protection under Iowa law than people who own manufactured homes! Common sense tells us that people who own their own homes should have at least as much protection as people who rent, if not more. But that is not the state of Iowa law today. And likely, that it why we are seeing so much interest from out-of-state landlords.

                Any meaningful legislation should be focused on two key areas. First, ensuring that we have equal protection (at least) under Iowa law for renters and for owners of manufactured homes. Second, we have to protect the property rights and due process rights of these home owners.

                I am cautiously optimistic that we will be able to accomplish meaningful reform in this area. Generally speaking, affordable housing is a very important topic, and it makes sense that you would start with the most “affordable” option and work your way up. I hope that by working to bring together Republicans and Democrats, landlords and residents, we can build agreement in Des Moines for common sense legislation. That is how our system is supposed to work!

  • Submitted statements: Dec. 14 Manufactured Housing Reform Hearing

    Below are submitted public comments on the need for manufactured housing reform in Iowa. Want to know more about this issue? Go to senate.iowa.gov/democrats/manufactured-homes

    Letter from Reynolds & Kenline L.L.P.Download pdf

    Letter from Cedar Falls resident Patricia GodwinDownload pdf

    Letter from Dubuque resident Marcy AntolikDownload pdf

    Letter from Dubuque resident Michael Linh Download pdf

  • News coverage: Dec. 14 Manufactured Housing Reform Hearing

    News coverage of the December 14 bipartisan legislative forum on Iowa’s need for manufactured housing reform, led by State Sen. Zach Wahls:

  • Watch Dec. 14 Manufactured Housing Reform Hearing

    Below are links to the Facebook live stream taken at the Manufactured Housing Reform Meeting.

    LIVE VIDEOS

    Part 1 facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats/videos/2642283802527093/

    Part 2 facebook.com/IowaSenateDemocrats/videos/548923872626380/

  • Manufactured Housing Reform Hearing, Dec. 14

    (If you watch the above video on YouTube, you can use the comments to click to specific speakers.)

    Below are documents that were presented to the public during the meeting.

    Senator Zach Wahls’ One Page Overview Download pdf

    Memorandum on Iowa Code Chapter 562BDownload pdf

    Private Equity Giants Converge on Manufactured Homes – February 2019Download pdf

    LSA-Report-on-Iowa-Manufactured-HousingDownload pdf

    Data on Manufactured Homes in Iowa CitiesDownload pdf

    Link to more information on manufactured housing reform: senate.iowa.gov/democrats/manufactured-homes/

  • Future Caucus tours renewable energy facilities


    IA SEN NEWS
    August 14, 2019

    Iowa Future Caucus leads tour of Iowa renewable energy industries

    Four state lawmakers who created the Iowa Future Caucus this year toured renewable energy operations on Wednesday, August 14.  Founded in 2019, the Iowa Future Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group of young lawmakers dedicated to finding bipartisan solutions in the Iowa Legislature.

    “Protecting the quality of life for our kids and our grandchildren means we have to take seriously air and water quality, the development of clean and renewable sources of energy, and pursue policies that build environmentally friendly infrastructure for our cities and towns,” said Representative Lindsay James.  

    “Solar, wind, biodiesel and ethanol are all components of progressing towards cleaner energy in our state and the energy of our future.  I’m excited to learn more about clean energy in our state and figure out ways to continue to support it.  As Iowa has been the leader in Wind Energy let’s continue to do that with other clean energy options.” – Representative Joe Mitchell 

    “Iowa’s renewable energy industries create jobs, support rural communities, and provide alternatives to conventional fossil fuels. Renewables will continue to be an important part of our state’s future for many decades to come, and it’s terrific to have this tour so we can learn more about what’s in store for these Iowa companies.” – Senator Zach Wahls

    “Renewable energy isn’t a partisan issue– it’s the best possible Public-Private investment in Iowa’s future.  The return on cultivating renewables helps our communities, our businesses, and our state attract long-term economic partners and retain our best workforce.” Senator Zach Nunn

    A bipartisan group of Iowa legislators spent the day learning about Iowa renewable energy production sites in Mason City, Colo and North Liberty. This photo was taken at the Biodiesel Plant in Mason City operated by Renewable Energy Group. The group above includes workers from the plant and State Representative Lindsay James of Dubuque,  Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City, Representative Sharon Steckman of Mason City, Representative Joe Mitchell of Mount Pleasant, and Senator Zach Wahls of Coralville. 

    A bipartisan group of Iowa legislators spent the day learning about Iowa renewable energy production sites in Mason City, Colo, and North Liberty. Chris Hoffman of Moxie Solar in North Liberty (right) explains how the company has expanded to include offices in Davenport, Cedar Rapids, Chicago and Austin, Texas. From left to right: State Legislator Lindsay James of Dubuque, State Senator Zach Wahls of Coralville and Hoffman.   

    The renewable energy tour on Wednesday included an ethanol plant, a biodiesel plant, a wind farm, and a solar energy facility. The full itinerary is below.

    Ethanol Plant Tour – Golden Grain Energy in Mason City: Golden Grain Energy is a privately-held company dedicated to adding value to northern Iowa’s corn production by turning locally-grown corn into clean-burning ethanol.

    Renewable Energy Group in Mason City: Renewable Energy Group is a global producer and supplier of renewable fuels like biodiesel and renewable diesel, renewable chemicals and other products.

    Wind Farm Tour – NextEra Wind Farm in Colo: NextEra Energy Resources is a leading wholesale power generator, operating power plants and offering a diverse fuel mix to utilities, retail electricity providers, power cooperatives, municipal electric providers and large industrial companies.

    Solar Installer Tour – MOXIE Solar in North Liberty: MOXIE was founded in 2008 out of a desire to bring new energy options to Iowa. With over 500 successfully completed projects and predominantly 5 star customer reviews, we’re proud of our role in creating a more sustainable future for our clients and our world.

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  • Sen. Wahls on Iowa’s need for Manufactured Home Reform

    Transcript:
    I just wanted to make sure that the body was aware of a current situation that’s unfolding across our state. Over the last several weeks and months, an out-of-state corporation called Haven Park Capital has acquired several mobile home parks across Iowa. These are currently, the ones we know about at least, are located in Waukee, North Liberty, Indianola, Iowa City, and North Liberty. And when I heard about these acquisition– two of them are in my own district–I started to take a look and understand what the current state of mobile home resident law is in our state. And the answer is it’s not very good. And I know hopefully nearing the end of session here, and we’re getting pretty late in the session, but I just wanted to put on everyone’s radar, that this company is raising the rents on folks, at least in Waukee and North Liberty, by 70 percent with only about 60 days’ notice And a 70 percent increase with 60 days notice is not very much time. And so I’m interested in working with anybody who wants to try and take a look at what’s possible to help protect folks who are being affected by these rent increases. And potentially under the gun, for increases that may be coming in other communities. I’ve had the chance to speak with Senator Kinney, whose residents in North Liberty are being affected by this. We had some of those folks just yesterday in the capitol, and we have a couple ideas about things that we can do to help protect folks. And I’ll be trying to walk around and talk with people. I want to thank Senator Rosenbloom for his interest in potentially working together on this issue. And one of the things I just want to make clear for folks, is the current law basically offers mobile home owners or residents virtually zero protection. I want to read just a quick sentence from the lease that was handed to folks in the Waukee mobile home park by this new company, Haven Park Capital. This is on page four of the lease they were handed under the 12th clause: Use of premises. “Premises,” of course, being the home. Residents shall occupy the premises and shall only use the premises as a residence and not for any commercial purposes or any purpose other than as a residence. Commercial use, among other things, is defined to include baby sitting and or childcare for individuals other than the resident’s immediate family on a regular basis. Residents shall not undertake any illegal activity including but not limited to the use, transfer, possession or creation of any illegal substance on the premises or in the community. And shall not use the premises in any other illegal or unlawful manner or contrary to any applicable law, rule, regulation or ordinances of any federal, state or municipal authorities. All that’s totally fine. Here’s the kicker. Further, residents shall not move the home from the home site without the landlords’ prior written consent which may be withheld for any reason and/or no reason. The whole point of a mobile home is that it can move. And the lease that these folks are being subjected to prevents them from being able to do that at all. So, I’m interested in working with anybody who’s willing to do some work on this. We’ve got a couple of ideas that will hopefully get some bipartisan support. I’d like to talk with you before we get out of here and go home. Thank you Mr. President.

  • News Conference: Iowans demand fix to state’s mobile home laws