BILL REQ. #:  H-0907.3 

Read first time 02/02/2007.   Referred to Committee on Finance.

     AN ACT Relating to creating a property tax exemption for the owner of a mobile or manufactured home; and adding a new section to chapter 84.36 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 84.36 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) A mobile home lot is exempt from tax, as provided in this section.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions apply unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
     (a) "Manufactured home" and "mobile home" are defined, as provided in RCW 59.20.030.
     (b) "Mobile home lot" means a portion of a mobile home park or manufactured housing community designated as the location of one mobile home or manufactured home and its accessory buildings, and leased for the exclusive use as a primary residence by the occupants of that mobile home or manufactured home. This definition only includes real property that is land.
     (c) "Value" means the estimated assessed value of the mobile home lot, determined by multiplying the assessed value of the parcel within which the mobile or manufactured home is located by the ratio of the area of the mobile home lot to the area of the parcel.
     (3) The benefit of the exemption must inure to the owner of the mobile or manufactured home.
     (4) The owner of the mobile or manufactured home must meet all the requirements in RCW 84.36.381 (1), (2), and (3).
     (5) The amount of the exemption must be calculated based on the value of the mobile home lot, as provided in this subsection.
     (a) If the owner of the mobile or manufactured home qualifies for the property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381(5)(a), then the mobile home lot is exempt from excess property taxes.
     (b) If the owner of the mobile or manufactured home qualifies for the property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(i), the mobile home lot is exempt from regular property taxes on the portion of its value equal to the lesser of:
     (i) Seventy thousand dollars; or
     (ii) The greater of:
     (A) Fifty thousand dollars, less the value exempted for the owner of the mobile or manufactured home under RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(i); or
     (B) Thirty-five percent of the value of the mobile home lot, less the value exempted for the owner of the mobile or manufactured home under RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(i).
     (c) If the owner of the mobile or manufactured home qualifies for the property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(ii), the mobile home lot is exempt from regular property taxes on the portion of its value equal to the greater of:
     (i) Sixty thousand dollars, less the value exempted for the owner of the mobile or manufactured home under RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(i); or
     (ii) Sixty percent of the value of the mobile home lot, less the value exempted for the owner of the mobile or manufactured home under RCW 84.36.381(5)(b)(i).
     (d) If the owner of the mobile or manufactured home qualifies for the exemption under RCW 84.36.381(6), the value of the mobile home lot shall be based on the assessed value of the parcel within which the mobile or manufactured home is located in the year the owner of the mobile or manufactured home applies for the exemption under this section.
     (6) In order for the mobile home lot to be eligible for the exemption under this section, the owner of the mobile or manufactured home must apply to the assessor of the county in which the mobile home lot is located. This application shall be made upon forms prescribed by the department of revenue and supplied by the county assessor. The owner of the mobile home park or manufactured housing community shall provide a copy of the lease indicating that the benefit of the exemption under this section will inure to the owner of the mobile or manufactured home.