David Preece

Dear Chair and Members of the Committee, I write in strong support of HB 1007, which modernizes New Hampshire’s manufactured housing statutes in a way that is fair, practical, and urgently needed to address our housing shortage. Manufactured housing is one of the most affordable homeownership options available to working families, seniors, and young people in this state. Yet for decades it has been held back by outdated, inconsistent, and sometimes discriminatory zoning rules that make it harder to site, expand, or replace homes—even when they meet all safety, health, and building standards. HB 1007 corrects that. This bill does not impose density. It does not force towns to approve unsafe or incompatible development. Instead, it establishes a clear, reasonable standard: municipalities must make good-faith efforts to allow manufactured housing somewhere within their borders, and those homes must follow the same zoning and lot rules as conventional single-family housing. That is equality, not a mandate. By replacing vague siting directives with a “reasonable efforts” standard, HB 1007 protects communities while ensuring that manufactured housing is not quietly zoned out of existence. Towns retain flexibility over where and how these homes are placed—but they can no longer use zoning to exclude an entire class of affordable housing. The bill also provides much-needed clarity for manufactured housing parks by consolidating expansion rules and applying the nationally recognized NFPA 501A fire safety standard. This protects residents, park owners, and first responders alike by ensuring consistent, modern safety rules instead of a patchwork of local standards. Equally important, HB 1007 ensures that families who lose their homes to fire or disaster can place a manufactured home on their lot while they rebuild. That is not a loophole—it is basic human decency. It allows people to stay in their communities, keep their children in school, and avoid displacement during a crisis. At a time when New Hampshire is struggling with high rents, limited housing supply, and rising homelessness, we cannot afford to block one of the most proven and cost-effective housing solutions available. Manufactured housing is safe, regulated, and widely used across the country. HB 1007 ensures it is treated that way here as well. I respectfully urge the Committee to recommend Ought to Pass on HB 1007. Sincerely, David John Preece State Representative, Hillsborough District 17