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Committee advances bill to codify RV manufacturer–dealer agreements, clarify Sunday motorized sales
Summary
The Homeland Security and Transportation Committee approved Senate Bill 484 to place recreational-vehicle (RV) manufacturer–dealer relationships in a separate chapter of law, require written dealer agreements and clarify when motorized RVs may be sold on Sundays, supporters told the committee.
The Homeland Security and Transportation Committee advanced Senate Bill 484 on a voice and roll-call vote after testimony from RV-industry representatives who said the bill creates clearer legal standards for manufacturer–dealer relationships and clarifies Sunday sales rules.
Senator Dorio, sponsor of the bill and a member of the committee, said the measure would adapt state law to the RV industry’s business model and solve recurring disputes between manufacturers and dealers. The sponsor described the RV industry as different from the automobile industry and said the bill would give dealers and manufacturers clearer written expectations.
The bill’s proponents told the committee the law would require certain dealer agreements to be in writing and would separate RV rules from auto franchise law. Ron Breimeyer, executive director of the RV Indiana Council, said current law already prohibits the sale of motorized RVs on Sundays except in a show, and the bill clarifies that allowance: "Under current law, you cannot sell motorized RVs on a Sunday. You can sell towable units like a travel trailer. So what this bill does, it clarifies when motorized can be sold on a Sunday, which is only in a show," Breimeyer said.
Ken Eckstein, a dealer with four decades in the business, told the committee written agreements reduce ambiguity and help with warranty, parts and territory questions. "The main thing is just that it has to be in writing and has to be understood and signed by both parties upfront," Eckstein said.
Michael Oakes, director of government affairs for the national RV Industry Association, said the bill would move RVs into a separate chapter of law from automobiles and require minimum provisions in dealer agreements. He said the model law behind the bill is endorsed by national RV manufacturer and dealer organizations and has been enacted in other states. "This legislation is the product of negotiation between the RV Industry Association, the RV Indiana Council, and RV Dealers in Indiana," Oakes said, and he urged the committee to advance the bill to the full Senate.
Committee members asked a few clarifying questions about Sunday sales and the rationale for separate treatment of the RV industry. No public opponents testified. After a motion and a roll-call, the committee recorded unanimous support and the bill was approved for advancement out of committee.
Votes at committee: a roll-call recorded the following members as voting yes: Senator Ron Bridal; Senator Jim Toms; Senator Dorio; Senator Randy Maxwell; Senator Jim Buck; Senator Ed Charbonneau; Senator Gary Byrne; Senator Mark Spencer; Senator JD Ford. The transcript indicates the committee vote result as "9-0." The motion/second for the committee action were not specified on the record.
Why it matters: Northern Indiana produces the majority of U.S.-made RVs, and witnesses told the committee clearer state law would reduce disputes between manufacturers and dealers and improve consumer protections around warranties and pre-delivery inspections. The sponsor and industry groups framed the bill as negotiated language intended to be reciprocal and fair to all parties.
The bill will next proceed according to normal Senate scheduling after leaving committee.
