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Bill to streamline mobile‑home distraint and refund timelines wins broad support from treasurers
Summary
Senate Bill 5221 would let county treasurers cancel distraint collections when collection costs exceed tax due for titled manufactured or mobile homes, align surplus funds procedures with real property sales, and allow new title certificates after distraint sales; county treasurers and county officials testified in favor.
Senator Bateman introduced Senate Bill 5221, proposing changes to personal property distraint procedures for titled mobile and manufactured homes and other personal property, and to the distribution and timing of surplus funds after distraint sales.
Why it matters: Testimony from county treasurers and the Washington Association of County Officials described the measure as a practical update to reduce administrative costs and to allow purchasers at distraint sales to obtain title sooner. Jeff Gadman, president of the Washington Association of County Treasurers, said the bill gives treasurers discretion to cancel collection when distraint costs would exceed the tax owed and shortens the pathway to ownership after an auctioned mobile home.
Treasurers provided practical examples. Gadman said distraint in Thurston County can cost "typically $300 to $500" and that it may be inefficient to pursue distraint for a small unpaid amount. He said buyers at distraint sales currently receive a treasurer's deed but cannot apply for title for three years under existing law, which prevents them from obtaining insurance and renting the property. The bill would allow a purchaser to obtain a new certificate of title when no existing title can be found, removing that three‑year barrier.
Fiscal note and support: Committee staff summarized the bill and noted a partial fiscal estimate by the Department of Revenue that showed an indeterminate fiscal impact of less than $50,000 per year related to changes in tax collection and training materials. Jennifer Wallace, executive director of the Washington Association of County Officials, said the statutory timelines for personal property distraint are outdated and that the bill brings similar common‑sense changes already made for real property in recent years.
Next steps: Supporters urged the committee to advance the bill as a targeted governance fix to reduce unnecessary collection costs and to make auctioned mobile homes more usable housing stock. No committee vote was recorded during the hearing.
