For the past several years MHC residents have sought legislation in the Utah legislature to help deal with community owners who they allege threaten to evict them if they try to organize a homeowners association, sltrib tells MHProNews.com. The Republican dominated House Business and Labor Committee voted along party lines, 9-3, to kill a bill introduced by Democrat Rep. Janice Fisher that would force meetings between homeowners and community owners, shortly after residents complained that Republican members only listen to community owners. Calling it a communications bill, Rep. Fisher says “the rights of Utahans who live in mobile home parks are being trampled.” Rick Bills, part owner of the American Heritage Retirement Community, says the bill hinders MHC owners from operating their communities as they wish, and that earlier versions of the bill contained rent control provisions. Democrat Rep. Sue Duckworth, saying lawmakers are weary of seeing this bill year after year, told residents and community owners, “You get together and fix this problem.”

(Photo credit: Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune–Rep. Janice Fisher at press conference)