SENATE BILL REPORT
EHB 1191
As Passed Senate, April 2, 2025
Title: An act relating to removing vehicle titles from manufactured homes.
Brief Description: Concerning removing vehicle titles from manufactured homes.
Sponsors: Representatives Connors, Peterson, Ryu, Gregerson, Barkis, Ormsby and Hill.
Brief History: Passed House: 3/3/25, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Housing: 3/19/25, 3/21/25 [DP].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 4/2/25, 49-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Updates who may apply to the Department of Licensing to eliminate a vehicle title for a mobile or manufactured home and how the home can be conveyed.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Bateman, Chair; Alvarado, Vice Chair; Goehner, Ranking Member; Gildon, Orwall, Salomon and Trudeau.
Staff: Bill Fosbre (786-7531)
Background:

Manufactured Homes Licensing.  An owner of a mobile or manufactured home must establish ownership by applying to the Department of Licensing (DOL) for a vehicle title. A person who owns both the mobile or manufactured home and the land on which it is affixed may apply to have the title eliminated or, if the home is new, to have the title waived.

 

Ownership of the land means the person has a fee simple title, has a leasehold estate of 35 years or more, or is purchasing the land on a real estate contract.

 

If the title for a mobile or manufactured home has been eliminated, the home is treated as real property.  A manufactured home whose title has been eliminated shall be conveyed by deed or real estate contract, and shall only be transferred together with the property to which it is affixed, unless the owner has applied to DOL: (1) for a new title, or (2) for a transfer in location of the manufactured home and obtained the necessary permits to move the manufactured home.
Summary of Bill:

The owner of a mobile or manufactured home in a mobile home park or manufactured housing community (community) may apply to the DOL for removal or waiver of the home's vehicle title if:

  • the community is formed as a stock cooperative or limited equity housing cooperative; and
  • the owner has an individual ownership interest through a membership or shares in the cooperative community.

 

The conveyance methods that an owner can use to convey a mobile or manufactured home that is treated as real property when the title has been eliminated is updated to include leasing. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on October 15, 2025.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  There are a lot of manufactured homes and housing communities that are now cooperatively owned. There are 1675 manufactured homes that are cooperatively owned. In parks that are cooperatively owned, essentially the folks living there own the land underneath their manufactured home.  Normally when you own a manufactured home, you have to rent the lot.  When you don't own the lot, the situation is like owning a car or a recreational vehicle, you must get a vehicle title.  This bill would allow that title to be eliminated because technically your community owns the ground underneath the home and it becomes real property.  By eliminating the vehicle title, the owner can get a first-time home buyer loan, which cannot be done when the lot is rented.  This bill will provide access to better financing options for those residents living in cooperative communities.  This bill has widespread support from the land title association, credit unions, county assessors, the Department of Licensing and the Department of Revenue.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative April Connors, Prime Sponsor; Victoria OBanion, Northwest Cooperative Development Center.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.