Tester Introduces Bill to Support Affordable Housing Options in Montana

Senator’s Manufactured Housing Community Sustainability Act addresses rising housing costs by bolstering manufactured housing

As part of his continued efforts to improve access to housing in Montana, U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced the Manufactured Housing Community Sustainability Act, legislation to allow more Montanans to stay in their homes and protect them from excessive rent increases by incentivizing manufactured home park owners to sell land to residents rather than another landlord or developer.

“Montanans in every corner of our state have told me they are being impacted by rising housing costs and a shortage of supply, which is why it’s more important than ever that we use all the tools at our disposable to ensure we maintain our existing affordable housing stock,” said Senator Tester. “Manufactured Housing Communities have provided affordable places to live for Montanans and folks around the country, and I’m proud to introduce this commonsense bill to help more Montana families and seniors remain in their communities. I’ll continue to do all I can to boost housing supply across Montana and ensure that folks who call our state home can continue to do so.”

Tester’s Manufactured Housing Community Sustainability Act would create a 75% federal tax credit offsetting capital gains if the property is sold to a resident-owned cooperative or nonprofit. This economic incentive would help preserve more manufactured housing communities and keep more families in their homes, while protecting the long-term viability of this important piece the affordable housing market.

Tester has been Montana’s leading champion for tackling rising housing costs and bolstering the state’s housing supply. Last week, Tester secured $10.2 million in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant funding to improve housing and critical infrastructure in East Helena. Earlier this year, Tester secured more than $16 million for housing programs across the state to increase the supply of housing for Montanans. In November, Tester introduced his Preservation and Reinvestment Initiative for Community Enhancement (PRICE) Act – legislation that would revitalize Montana’s affordable housing supply by establishing a manufactured housing community improvement grant program.

In September, Tester also introduced his bipartisan Rural Housing Service Reform Act of 2023 – legislation which would improve federal rural housing programs, cut government red tape, and strengthen the supply of affordable housing across Montana.

Full text of Tester’s bill can be found HERE.