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Bill

H 5128

An Act providing for the establishment of a board to oversee use and occupancy payments for manufactured housing community accommodations in the city of Attleboro, Massachusetts

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jim Hawkins

Establishes oversight board in Attleboro to regulate use and occupancy payment practices in manufactured housing communities, protecting residents from uncontrolled fee increases.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Steering, Policy and Scheduling
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Bill Summary · H 5128

Legislative bill overview

H 5128 establishes a regulatory board in Attleboro, Massachusetts to oversee use and occupancy payments charged to residents of manufactured housing communities. The bill creates a local mechanism for monitoring and potentially controlling the fees that community owners charge residents for use of their properties.

Why is this important

Manufactured housing residents often face rising occupancy fees with limited recourse, as they cannot easily relocate their homes. This bill addresses affordability concerns by creating local oversight, potentially protecting vulnerable residents from excessive fee increases while balancing property owners' operational costs.

Potential points of contention

  • Regulatory scope uncertainty: The bill's specific powers—whether the board can cap fees, approve increases, or merely review them—remain unclear and could be contentious between residents seeking protection and owners concerned about operational flexibility
  • Property rights vs. tenant protection: Manufactured housing owners may argue the board infringes on property rights and business autonomy, while advocates will counter that immobile residents need protection from price gouging
  • Implementation costs and complexity: Creating a new regulatory board requires funding, staffing, and administrative processes; unclear who bears these costs and whether Attleboro has adequate resources

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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