Committee defers manufactured‑housing bill to clarify flood freeboard language
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Summary
House Bill 318, which would set manufactured and modular housing elevation standards aligned with FEMA minimums, was voluntarily deferred for one week so sponsors can refine language on how local freeboard requirements interact with the state standard.
Representative Gadbury introduced House Bill 318 to set minimum standards for manufactured and modular housing in flood‑prone areas aligned with FEMA guidance and to address inconsistent local elevation requirements.
Steve Duke, representing the Manufactured Housing Association, explained that the bill aims to create a more even standard for finished‑floor elevations for manufactured homes. "FEMA requires you to be the the lowest horizontal member be outside the floodplain," Duke said, and he described field confusion when local jurisdictions apply different freeboard requirements or maps.
Duke told the committee that some installers are being required to raise homes multiple times because differing local instructions and maps create conflicting elevations, increasing costs for homeowners. Committee members said the bill addresses an affordability concern: higher required elevations can make it difficult for lower‑income residents to replace or install manufactured homes.
Representative Landry and others asked for clearer language. Representative Jordan moved to voluntarily defer the bill for one week to allow sponsors and stakeholders to refine the wording in paragraph (b) regarding when local ordinances may be more restrictive than the FEMA minimum standard. Green cards in support were filed by representatives of the Louisiana Manufactured Housing Association.
The committee granted the voluntary deferral for one week; sponsors said they expected to refile with clarified language at the next meeting.