Extended Eviction Moratorium; End of UI in TX; Special Session; TMHA Board Meeting

CDC Extends Eviction Moratorium to July 31

On June 24, the CDC again extended its eviction moratorium until July 31, 2021.  In its announcement, the CDC indicated that this will be the final extension.

We are also continuing to watch and wait for the US Supreme Court ruling determining if the actions by the CDC are permissible.  There was a ruling in May by a lower court that vacated the moratorium, but this was placed on stay pending an appeal.  On June 3, The Alabama Association of Realtors asked the US Supreme Court to intervene under its emergency powers.

For those looking for rental assistance or looking for assistance for your tenants, please consider the Texas Rent Relief Program.  Per the dashboard, the program has already distributed more than $388 million in rental assistance, with nearly another $100 million approved for distribution.  The total funding is just under $1.2 billion, and the average amount of assistance is about $6,300.

Gov. Abbott Ends Extended Unemployment Insurance June 26

Back in late May, Gov. Abbott informed U.S. Department of Labor that Texas will opt out of further federal unemployment compensation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, effective June 26, 2021. This includes the $300 weekly unemployment supplement from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program.

In his announcement, Gov. Abbott stated, “At this stage of opening the state 100 percent, the focus must be on helping unemployed Texans connect with the more than a million job openings, rather than paying unemployment benefits to remain off the employment rolls.”

Gov. Abbott Announces Special Legislative Session for July 8

When the Governor calls for a special session, the Texas legislature will meet for up to 30-days, or less. The agenda, or “call,” is left up to the Governor to decide and only those subjects may be taken up.  Gov. Abbott has not yet announced the call.  This first special session is expected to be one of several taken up to address various issues that failed to achieve passage during the regular session, the state budget, redistricting, and possibly the future allocation of funds Texas will received for pandemic relief.

TMHA Board of Directors Meeting

For the first time since March of 2020, TMHA’s board of directors gathered in Arlington earlier this week.  Among the many topics discussed, including a review of the most recent 2021 Legislative Session, the board voted to amend TMHA bylaws on a temporary basis to allow for the current 2020-2021 board members to have their terms extended one additional year.  Following the lead of many other trade associations, including other state manufactured housing associations, the rationale was based on the fact that due to the pandemic and the lack of in-person meetings, board members should be allowed to serve another year in a traditional in-person capacity.  As such, this amendment has immediate effect and will suspend the nominations and voting process for the coming 2021-2022 year.  The membership in attendance at the annual meeting held the night of September 13, 2021, during TMHA’s Annual Convention will be asked to ratify this temporary change.