Governor Matt Meyer signed a series of bills this week, including measures aimed at expanding access to affordable housing and helping some schools cope with the influx of students from new residential developments.
Senate Bill 150 establishes the Affordable Rental Housing Program to provide loans that expand access to affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. The measure was based on a recommendation made by the Affordable Housing Production Task Force and cleared the legislature without opposition.
Senate Bill 176, a bipartisan measure sponsored by Sen. Russ Huxtable (D-Harbeson, Dewey Beach), Senate Minority Whip Brian Pettyjohn (R-Georgetown), and Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R-Long Neck, Oak Orchard), among others, should help provide resources to build schools. “My district is in one of the fastest-growing areas in Sussex County,” Rep. Hilovsky said. “I am proud to sponsor legislation that will empower Sussex County to impose impact fees on developers to support school construction. Frankly, I was surprised such a law was not already in place years ago. It’s long overdue.”
Senate Bill 40 targets chronic bad actors who own manufactured home communities. This new law will hold landlords who repeatedly break state law or violate rental agreements accountable under the Consumer Fraud Act, enabling the Delaware Attorney General to take stronger enforcement actions, including possible receivership. The bill passed the legislature unanimously.
House Substitute 1 for House Bill 147 will allow Delawareans to transfer real estate directly to a beneficiary through a “transfer-on-death deed,” avoiding probate while keeping full ownership and control during their lifetime. This measure is based on model legislation (The Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act) that has been enacted in 19 states. A substantially similar law has reportedly been enacted in 10 additional states. This bill passed both chambers without a dissenting vote.
House Bill 193, sponsored by Rep. Hilovsky and Sens. Kyra Hoffner (D-Townsend, Smyrna, Cheswold) and Eric Buckson (R-Dover South), removes the $15 million cap on the Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund and increases the tenant contribution to $1.50 per month. The fund provides financial assistance to both homeowners and community owners when a manufactured home community closes, and homes must be relocated or demolished. “District 4, which includes Long Neck, has more manufactured home communities than any other district in Delaware, and this bipartisan measure increases funding to better support these communities,” Rep. Hilovsky said.
