A Message From THA
2020 Election Outlook – Tennessee
As we approach election season, please review the below summary of changes set to transpire in Tennessee federally and in the General Assembly.
The 111th Tennessee General Assembly adjourned sine die during the early hours of June 19, 2020. Since closing, there has been much conversation around the potential for a Special Session to convene within the next several months to take up a handful of bills, specifically legislation regarding protection from COVID-19 related lawsuits for businesses, nonprofits, churches, and schools. However, the majority of the General Assembly has already pivoted into campaign mode. All members in the Tennessee House of Representatives are up for re-election this year, while all Senators representing even numbered districts face re-election in the Tennessee Senate. In addition to state elections, Tennessee will hold a number of elections for federal representation, including a U.S. Senate seat and all U.S. House seats. Below is a list of expected federal and state legislative changes to transpire in 2020.  
US Senate Changes

  • Senator Lamar Alexander has announced his retirement. Former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Bill Hagerty, and Nashville based surgeon Manny Sethi have emerged as front runners, in a field of 15 candidates, for the Republican nomination. Meanwhile, there are 5 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination, and 9 Independent candidates.
US House Changes

  • All U.S. House of Representative members face re-election this year. Congressman Phil Roe (R-01) is the lone incumbent not seeking re-election.
  • In District 1, there are 16 candidates seeking the Republican nomination, including State Senator Rusty Crowe and State Representatives David Hawk and Timothy Hill. Additionally, there are 3 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination and 1 Independent.
  • In District 2, there are 2 candidates battling for the Democratic nomination and 1 Independent campaigning for incumbent Tim Burchett’s seat.
  • In District 3, Chuck Fleischmann seeks re-election against 1 Democratic candidate and 3 Independents.
  • In District 4, incumbent Scott DesJarlais seeks the Republican nomination, but faces 2 Primary challengers. Meanwhile, there are 2 candidates seeking the Democratic nomination.
  • As Jim Cooper seeks re-election for his seat in District 5, he faces 2 Democratic challengers.
  • District 6 incumbent John Rose seeks re-election, while being challenged by 1 Democratic candidate and 1 Independent.
  • In District 7, Mark Green seeks re-election against 1 Democratic candidate and 2 Independents.
  • As David Kustoff of District 8 seeks re-election, the Democratic Primary consists of 4 candidates. Additionally, there are 2 Independents running for the seat.
  • Lastly, Steve Cohen is also seeking re-election. He faces 2 opponents in the Democratic Primary. Two Independents and one Republican, respectively, have also entered the race.
TN State Senate Landscape

  • This year all even numbered districts in the Senate are up for reelection.
  • All incumbents of these districts are seeking reelection besides one (District 26).
  • District 26 is the lone open Senate seat, which was vacated by incumbent Delores Gresham. Additionally, she leaves behind her Education Committee Chairmanship.
  • Dr. Page Walley and former Dept. of Agriculture Commissioner Jai Templeton are campaigning in the Republican Primary, in hopes of replacing Gresham. Civil Miller-Watkins will represent the Democratic Party in this race.
TN State House Landscape

  • All members of the TN State House are up for re-election this year. Only 6 incumbents will not seek re-election.
  • Commerce Chairman Timothy Hill is not seeking re-election to run for the open U.S. Congressional District 1 seat.
  • Additionally, Government Operations Chairman Martin Daniel is not seeking re-election, leaving his chairmanship vacant, to spend more time with his family and focus on his business.
  • After 26 years, Speaker Pro Tempore Bill Dunn is not seeking re-election. He cited the success of helping ESAs and strong Pro-Life policy pass in 2019 as the right time to step away from the General Assembly.
  • Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Andy Holt is not seeking re-election this year. Holt’s announcement alluded to his accomplishments in office during his 10 year as the reason for his departure
  • Perhaps one of the largest stories of this election cycle is the ousting of incumbent John DeBerry from the Democratic Primary ticket. Despite being barred from the Democratic Primary, DeBerry has announced plans to run for re-election as an Independent.
  • Higher Education Subcommittee Chairman Jim Coley is not seeking re-election this cycle, leaving behind his subcommittee chairmanship.
  • Also noteworthy is David Hawk’s entrance into the U.S. House race in District 1. Currently, he is the only qualified candidate running for his State House seat.
THA had a successful legislative year!

As you see from the election outlook above, now is the time to support the many legislators who supported us! Please help the Association help you, by contributing to the THA-Political Action Campaign (THA-PAC), today.
The THA 2020 Political Action Committee (PAC) Campaign is in Progress!
The THA-PAC is accepting contributions!

Thank you for your consideration!
  
  • As the campaign season for November elections is in full swing here in Tennessee, your political contribution of funds is critical to our industry's state success. 

  • Access to our legislative members is key, as was just proven by THAs successful passing of much needed changes to our transportation law.

  • Please support the THA-PAC, to allow THA's continuance of educating key lawmakers on the importance of our industry, while also providing general counsel in ways of promoting manufactured homes as a viable option for addressing the affordable housing crisis.
Tennessee accepts corporate, personal and LLC contributions. Your contribution is critical! 
Working-Age Population Not Keeping Pace With Growth in Older Americans


The surge in the number of Americans aged 65 and older this decade has outpaced the growth in the working-age population. In counties across the United States, the dependency ratio has increased, according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released today.
Is America’s Housing Ready for an Aging Population?
Only 10% of homes in the U.S. are aging-ready, while a quarter of all older households have trouble using some of the features of their home.
2020 RV/MH Annual Induction Dinner Postponed until December 3rd, 2020
In an emergency meeting of the RV/MH Hall of Fame Executive Committee (Tuesday-July 6th), the committee voted to postpone the Annual RV/MH Hall of Fame Induction Dinner until Thursday, December 3, 2020. The ceremony was originally scheduled for August 3rd.

On Tuesday, Darryl Searer, president of the Hall, stated, “I have had better days, but we need to do what needs to be done. And postponing the Induction Dinner amid the continuing Coronavirus pandemic is the appropriate course of action.”
In this decision, the RV/MH Executive Committee believed the atmosphere to celebrate at this later date would be much more positive, health concerns would not plague the evening, and an overall feeling of peace of mind would more than likely be present.
Tell Senators to Oppose Amendment that Mandates New Federal Reporting Requirements for Small Businesses

When the Senate returns from its two-week recess, the Chamber is expected to vote on an amendment that would shift reporting requirements about the owners of corporate banking accounts from banks to small businesses. The amendment will be offered to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and MHI has joined a coalition of business groups opposing the amendment because it creates new reporting hurdles for small businesses at a time they are trying to gain a foothold during the Coronavirus pandemic.
 
Currently, under a rule that took effect in May 2018, financial institutions are required to collect information such as names and addresses of the owners of corporate banking accounts. The intent of this requirement was to combat money laundering by identifying anonymous shell companies or limited liability companies with no significant assets or operations. An amendment is expected to be offered to the NDAA proposing to alleviate the reporting requirement on banks to validate customer identities. Instead, under the amendment millions of small businesses in the United States would be required to register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and file updated reports within a year of any information changes. Willful failure to provide complete and updated reports to FinCEN could result in civil penalties of $500 per day up to $10,000 and criminal penalties of up to two years in prison, or both. Further, the amendment significantly reduces the due process rights of small business owners by lowering the legal standards for who, for what and how information can be accessed.
 
MHI has joined a coalition of business groups in opposition to the amendment. While the coalition respects the importance of the government’s work to protect our national security, imposing this additional reporting requirement on small business owners at a time when they are doing all they can to support the survival of their companies during the pandemic is alarming. Even more concerning is that the legislation has not gone through the normal congressional deliberations process where negative consequences – such as privacy concerns, cybersecurity risks, and due process issues – could be addressed prior to passage.
 
We need you to join our efforts and tell your Senators to oppose the “Beneficial Ownership Rule Change” amendment. With MHI's advocacy page, making this request of your Senators is easy.
 
Click here   and follow the simple steps on MHI's website. The letter to your Senators has already been composed – all you have to do is insert your home address and click “Submit.”
 
The vote will take place in the U.S. Senate the week of July 20. Please give this your immediate attention and send it along to others in your organization and everyone else you know in the industry urging them to do the same.
Legislation Introduced to Extend and Expand Nationwide Eviction Moratorium

Legislation has been introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representatives Chuy Garcia (D-IL) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) that would extend and expand the eviction moratorium for renters that ends on July 24, 2020.

Titled the “Protecting Renters from Evictions and Fees Act of 2020” the legislation extends the federal eviction moratorium to March 27, 2021, one year after the date of enactment of the CARES Act, and expands the moratorium to cover substantially all renters. The bill also prohibits fees, fines, and extra charges due to nonpayment of rent. The same provision was also included in the HEROES Act, which passed the House of Representatives on May 15, 2020. MHI, along with housing industry leaders, is drafting a letter to Congress outlining concerns with the approach taken in the legislation and recommending necessary changes.

Throughout this national health emergency, MHI has worked to ensure federal measures support the long-term financial stability of both renters and manufactured housing community owners and operators. MHI continues to work as a part of a coalition of national housing industry trade groups to advocate for rental assistance for residents and financial mitigation measures for property managers—including manufactured home community owners. As part of this effort, MHI is calling on Congress to tie eviction moratorium protections to those renters impacted by COVID-19, create an emergency rental assistance program for those who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, establish a Federal Reserve credit facility for mortgage servicers, and ensure multifamily businesses have access to government support programs. 

Paycheck Protection Program Extended


On July 4, President Trump signed legislation extending the deadline for small businesses to apply for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).

Originally set to expire on June 30, businesses now have until August 8 to apply for assistance. 

MHI continues to advocate for clarification of PPP guidelines regarding the eligibility of manufactured housing communities to receive funds. Current regulations and guidance issued by the SBA to administering lenders do not specifically include manufactured housing communities among eligible PPP recipients.

Since the PPP was first established, MHI has advocated through letters and calls to the U.S. Treasury and the SBA, to clarify the eligibility of manufactured housing community owners and operators for this program.

MHI will also continue to advocate for the elimination of the provision that prohibits 501(c)(6) non-profit organizations from accessing PPP funds.

For up-to-date information, visit SBA’s website .
Extension and Expansion of the
45L Energy Efficient Home Tax Credit (45L Tax Credit)

The House infrastructure package extends the 45L Tax Credit through 2025. MHI has been a consistent voice on Capitol Hill advocating strongly for the extension of this tax credit. MHI works with the House and Senate tax committees each year to secure the annual extension of this credit. The bill expands the maximum credit for eligible new energy efficient homes from $2,000 to $2,500 and makes eligible units with energy expenditures at least 15% below the expenditures of a comparable unit based on the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code standards. It also replaces the eligibility requirements for units eligible for the $1,000 credit to correspond with the Energy Star Labeled Homes program.
FinCEN Issues Advisory on Imposter Scams and Money Mule Schemes,
Related to COVID-19
 
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) issued an advisory today to alert financial institutions to potential indicators of imposter scams and money mule schemes, which are two forms of consumer fraud observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The advisory contains descriptions of these scams and schemes, financial red flag indicators for both, and information on reporting suspicious activity.
 
The advisory is based on FinCEN’s analysis of COVID-19-related information obtained from Bank Secrecy Act data, open source reporting, and law enforcement partners. FinCEN will issue COVID-19-related information to financial institutions to help enhance their efforts to detect, prevent, and report suspected illicit activity on its website at https://www.fincen.gov/coronavirus . 

Have You Conducted Your Annual Queries in the Clearinghouse Yet?


Per § 382.701 , employers of CDL drivers must conduct a query of the Clearinghouse at least once per year for each CDL driver they employ. The annual query requirement is tracked on a rolling 12-month basis. The one-year time frame resets with each query conducted on a driver.

A limited query satisfies the annual query requirement. Employers must obtain a general consent from CDL drivers they employ before conducting limited queries in the Clearinghouse to view these drivers’ information (you can download a sample limited query consent form ). 

You can log in to the Clearinghouse and conduct your annual queries today. To learn more, download the queries and consent requests factsheet .

FMCSA has updated the CSA SMS Website with the June 26, 2020 results.

Complete SMS results are available to enforcement users and motor carriers that are logged into the SMS . Logged-in enforcement users can view all carrier safety data, while logged-in motor carriers can only view their own data. If you are a motor carrier and do not have login credentials, please click here for more information on how to obtain your PIN.
Governor Lee Grants Mayors in 89 Counties Authority to Issue COVID-19 Mask Requirements

On Friday (7/3/20), Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed Executive Order 54 to grant county mayors in 89 counties the authority to issue local mask requirements in the event of a significant rise in COVID-19 cases.

“While our densely populated urban areas continue to have the highest COVID-19 case rates, our local governments expressed a need for greater flexibility in addressing a rise in cases, and that includes setting stronger expectations around masks,” said Gov. Lee. “This targeted approach ensures we protect both lives and livelihoods, and safely keep our economy open in Tennessee. We encourage every Tennessean across the state to use a face covering or mask, make sure to socially distance and wash hands frequently.”

The six counties with locally run health departments including Sullivan, Knox, Hamilton, Davidson, Madison and Shelby counties retain the existing authority to issue mask requirements as needed.

This Order shall be effective upon execution and shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m., Central Daylight Time, on August 3, 2020.


Governor Lee Press Conference Highlights
(Wednesday - 07/08/20)
During Governor Lee's press conference surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, the following updates were provided:
  • The Governor announced $81 million in COVID-19 education relief grants for K-12 and Higher Education Institutions. $61 million has been allocated for K-12 education, including $11 million in grants to Local Education Authorities (LEAs) for reopening and programmatic support and $50 million of district technology grants. The remaining $20 million will be allocated to higher education institutions to aid in alleviating social distance expenses and online transition. The official press release can be found here.
  • The Department of Education announced plans to roll out an online tool that will house an entire year's instruction in videos that can be seen online by students or downloaded to their devices.
  • Tennessee recorded it's highest single day total of new positive COVID cases today, with nearly 2,500 positive cases. However, this comes in conjunction with administering over 29,000 tests, which is the greatest amount of tests that have been administered thus far. 
  • Additionally, the Department of Health addresses an increase in test result waiting times. They are closely monitoring wait times of their lab partners to redirect tests away from overburdened labs to lesser burdened labs.

Charlie Daniels
1936 - 2020

By order of Governor Lee, ALL flags will fly half mass on Friday, July 10th, to honor Charlie Daniels.


GAO Report Highlights
Rental Affordability Crisis 

A recent report from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office has shown that many renters in the United States are “cost-burdened,” paying more than 30 percent of their monthly income on rent. Read more about the study and how manufactured housing could provide vital support and common-sense solutions for the shortage of affordable housing options.
COVID-19 RESOURCES

By Member request , THA will continue to maintain a resource section on our Website , for an extended period of time.

Mitigation efforts of states continually consider their respective hospital availability of beds and ventilators (resources), when implementing new pandemic policies. If you are curious about where Tennessee Hospital COVID-19 resources stand, click HERE , to view a snapshot.

American Housing Built by American Workers



SAVE THE DATE!
For more information, contact Show Coordinator Dennis J. Hill at (770) 587-3350
January 20 - 22, 2021
Although there are currently still concerns and restrictions in place due to COVID-19, show promoters anticipate by the end of January, things will have improved significantly. They are very mindful of the health and safety of everyone attending, and that will be the highest priority.

Promoters will be closely monitoring and following all CDC and local guidelines that are in place in January. Also, hand sanitizer stations will be set up in key locations throughout the show for use by attendees and exhibitors alike.
Revisiting the Retailer Do’s & Don'ts List
Regarding Financing
Webinar - Registration Available

July 21, 2020 from 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM EST

Registration is now available for MHI's next webinar - Revisiting the Retailer Do’s & Dont’s List Regarding Financing . This webinar will revisit retailer interactions with home purchasers about financing during the home sales process, including a discussion of the current regulatory landscape. The discussion will touch on the “new” do’s and don’ts list, issues related to mortgage loan originator licensing, why lenders and investors may be concerned with potential unlicensed activity and recent state developments related to mortgage loan originator licensing. Attendees will be provided talking points for discussing this issue with state regulators and legislatures.

Presented by:
Jeffrey Barringer , McGlinchey Stafford; 
David Chernek , Cascade Financial Services; and
Matt Webb , 21st Mortgage

The webinar cost is $25 per person.
Online registration is available through Friday, July 17.   
SAVE THE DATE
Upcoming MHI Webinars

July 30, 2020
OUTSIDE the BOX
A Solution to the Affordable Housing Crisis
Sponsored by Credit Human


August 6, 2020
Managing Your Online Reputation
Sponsored by MH Reviews and Rent Manager


August 18, 2020
Not Your Grandmother’s Manufactured Home and Why it Shouldn’t Be!
Sponsored by Hunt Real Estate Capital and Skyline Champion


August 27, 2020
Service and Emotional Support Animals: The ADA vs. The Fair Housing Act
Sponsored by Sun Communities


September 10, 2020
Developing Land-Lease Manufactured Home Communities for the Future
Sponsored by Hunt Real Estate Capital and Skyline Champion


September 22, 2020
 Education Makes a Good Community Manager Great 
Sponsored by Credit Human


RETAIL SALES
COVID-19 Recovery
How to Emerge & Thrive
Free Webinar Series
6 Easy Ways To Boost Sales in 2020

Powered/Sponsored by: ManufacturedHomes.com
As a nation and an industry, we are currently facing tough economic hardships.

When the recovery comes -- and it will come --
will you and your business be ready to emerge and thrive?
Remaining Upcoming Scheduled Topics


  • Thursday, July 16, 2020, 2 PM ET - Effective Sales Management - John Ace Underwood

  • Thursday, July 30, 2020, 2 PM ET - Engaging With Your State Association - Rick Robinson

  • Thursday, August 13, 2020, 2 PM ET - Leveraging Innovation - Paul Barretto
NEW TO MANUFACTURED HOUSING?

ManufacturedHomes.com offers a glossary of terms, used by the industry.
5
5 Actionable Strategies For
Success After COVID-19

If you missed this earlier webinar,
view it for free now!
THA's Annual Meeting and 65th
Anniversary Celebration
October 18 - 20, 2020
Installer/Retailer
Initial Licensing & Continuing Ed