2 mobile home park issues up for debate

This month, House lawmakers were expected to debate and vote on the second of two bills that would add protections for home owners in mobile home parks across Colorado.

The first, House Bill 1201, allows mobile home owners 90 days to purchase a mobile home park if it goes up for sale. The park owner is not required to accept the offer, according to co-sponsor Rep. Edie Hooton, D-Boulder. The 90-day period would allow mobile home owners time to put together an offer, with financing, she told the House on March 3.

The bill passed on a 41-24 vote, with all Democrats voting in favor and all Republicans, including Rep. Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne Wells, voting against.

Under the bill, a majority of the mobile home owners would have to agree to make the offer.

Rep. Richard Holtorf, R-Akron, attempted to amend the bill during debate on March 2 to allow the park owner to sell to a willing buyer who wants to continue operating the park. That amendment, however, was rejected.

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