During the week of June 4, 2023, CalOHA’s President & CEO Dyana Kelley attended RVs Move America week in Washington, DC. The RV Industry Association (RVIA) hosted RVs Move America week in Washington, DC last week. The three-day event kicked off with two days of committee meetings followed by an advocacy day. Dyana Kelley, our President and CEO, had the opportunity to attend public & legislative affairs, sustainability, and membership & supplier committee meetings, among others. On Wednesday, Dyana marched on to capitol hill, where she met with representatives from California, Oregon, and Washington to promote four prominent issues within our industry. America’s Outdoor Recreation Act Without safe and adequate campgrounds, we severely hamper the $140 billion American-made RV industry. This landmark legislation addresses longstanding maintenance backlogs negatively impacting public lands, including roads and campgrounds that RVers rely on every day. The RVIA asked for support in outdoor recreation legislation and an outdoor recreation package as it comes together. Farm Bill Outdoor Recreation in rural communities is a significant driver for economic development, growth, and resiliency across the country. Legislation to reauthorize federal agriculture programs every five years provides an opportunity to help rural communities respond to increased demand for outdoor recreation by providing technical assistance and funding. Additionally, the Farm Bill provides an opportunity to ensure that the US Forest Service is accounting for outdoor recreation in their strategic planning. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and Competitive Need Limitations (CNL) The RV industry relies on the GSP to import very thin plywood used in most RVs from Indonesia, duty free. Unfortunately, the program expired in December 2020 and the industry is currently burdened by import duties while also facing issues related to inflation. In recent history, this program has been renewed for a brief period of three years. The RVIA believes this should be at least 6 years. CNLs are built-in import ceilings under the GSP program that eliminate duty-free access to the U.S. market for products that exceed them, even if there is no domestic alternative or concerns that imports harm a U.S. industry. GSP benefits are terminated when imports of a certain product from a certain country either account for 50% or more of the value of total US imports of that product or exceed a certain dollar value. The RVIA asked representatives for support to modernize CNLs by increasing the dollar threshold by a value that matches inflation and removing the volume limitation for products that are only available in a limited geographic area. Dealer Floor Plan Interest Deduction/Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act The current definition of “motor vehicle” in the federal tax code inequitably impacts certain segments of the RV industry. While dealer inventory financing interest charges on motorhomes remains fully deductible, since 2017 towable RVs have been limited to deductions of only 30% of interest expenses. This RV motorhome/towable distinction is unfair, and the unintended disparity becomes more problematic as interest rates increase. Overall, RVs Move America week was a successful week full of networking, committee meetings, and advocacy efforts.
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Over 11.2 million households own an RV according to the RVIA; this is up 26% over the past 10 years and 62% over the past 20 years. How do we keep it up? The RV industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry: $140 billion to be exact. It contributes greatly to the country’s economy and even connects travelers from across the globe. More people than ever before are discovering the joy and wonder of RVing. With such a rapidly growing industry, how do we keep it from falling? Help us to advocate for RV parks and campgrounds Speak to your local legislators and assembly members about bills happening now in California, but also be aware of national bills as well. We have been working hard to make our members aware of Assembly Bill 1472, which fines RV park owners who have tenants move out for a period of time and then allows them to move back in under a new lease as a method of preventing residency. Currently, the bill is in the judiciary phase, and CalOHA is working with a lobbyist to combat its passing. There is also a national bill that we need to pass: America’s Outdoor Recreation Act. This bill attempts to modernize and expand campgrounds in order to keep up with the current demand in the industry. It will also increase jobs and access to public lands, ensure more Americans are able to enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, and create more RV camping opportunities. With campgrounds and RV parks experiencing record-breaking demand, it is vital that we keep them not just operating but updated and well kept. One way to assist with this is to pass America’s Outdoor Recreation Act. This week, our President and CEO is in Washington DC advocating for your parks, and this act is one of many discussions. Our industry is continuing to grow. However, if we do not take care of them, RV parks and campgrounds may not be able to sustain themselves in the future. For more information on these bills and advocacy efforts, please send us an email or call our office at (530) 885-1624. AB 22 – Assemblyman Gipson (LA County) Aimed to amend section 396 of the Vehicle Code relating to “mobile coaches” by enacting legislation that would classify motor coaches that are parked in a mobile home park for a period of time that satisfies residency requirements (9 months) as mobile home properties to give mobile coach owners the ability to build home equity. Additionally, current law defines “mobile home” for the purposes of the enforcement of highway safety laws and regulations as a trailer coach which is in excess of 102 inches in width or in excess of 40 feet in overall length measured from the foremost point of the trailer hitch to the rear extremity of the trailer. This bill would increase the width in the above-specified definition from 102 inches to 110 inches. Thanks to the hard work of Chris Wysocki of the WMA the first part of the bill regarding equity has been stricken and only the size requirements will be moving forward. AB 1472 – Assemblyman Alvarez (San Diego) Another bill with two parts is set to amend the RV Park Occupancy Law in Imperial Beach but the author is looking to expand to a statewide ordinance. Part one would mimic the rent restrictions of a mobile home park by limiting rental increase to 3% plus CPI not to exceed 5% and limiting it to 2 increments over a 12 month period. Part two would prohibit the practice of limiting a tenant to a period of time under 9 months to prevent residency. Any park that would require a tenant to leave and re-register would be subject to fines and legal action that would award attorney’s fees to the prevailing party. A governing body may establish inspection, reporting, recordkeeping to ensure compliance. I have been in touch with Assm Alvarez’s staff and waiting for a meeting. The Assemblyman is very approachable and willing to work with us on this legislation. This could be extremely detrimental to RV parks with extended stay offerings. More to come. SB 620 - Senator McGuire This bill would provide a pathway for low impact camping in rural areas, AG land, and private property. The Special Occupancy Parks Act, establishes requirements for the construction, maintenance, occupancy, use, and design of RV parks and campgrounds. Existing law defines “special occupa ncy park” to mean a recreational vehicle park, temporary recreational vehicle park, incidental camping area, or tent camp. This bill would specify that, for the purposes of that act, a special occupancy park does not include a low-impact camping area. The bill would define a “low-impact camping area” to mean any area of private property that provides for the transient occupancy rental of a shelter, recreational vehicle, or other temporary sleeping accommodation, as defined, for recreational purposes that is not a commercial lodging facility and meets specified requirements such as less than 9 sites. More to come. Commissioner Lara and the FAIR Plan have reached an agreement to increase the commercial coverage limit to $20 million, more than doubling the existing limit for California businesses! Insurance rates and availability in California have increasingly been the subject of many heated conversations and left many businesses struggling for alternatives. Last July, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara held an investigatory hearing into the FAIR Plan during which our association, our members, and countless other groups and businesses, had the opportunity to share their stories and advocate the need for change. The California FAIR Plan was never intended to be the first choice for home or business owners, but rather was developed to provide insurance to those who have been unable to secure a policy through traditional carrier. However, as risks of wildfires and flooding have increased over recent years, many traditional carriers have chosen to exit the California Market, or increase premiums to unreasonable rates, leaving no other choice but to turn to the FAIR Plan, which unfortunately comes with its own set of hurdles. One of the largest issues when it comes to the FAIR Plan is that while commercial property values and coverage needs are continuously increasing, the FAIR Plan’s commercial limits had not been adjusted in more that two decades. The new agreement signed March 29th by Commissioner Lara and FAIR Plan President Victoria Roach will increase the combined coverage limits for the FAIR Plan, under its Division I Commercial Property Program, from $8.4 million to $20 million per location and, under its Division II Businessowners Program, from $7.2 million to $20 million per location. For more information on this agreement, please check out the full press release here. |
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