Lawmakers Hear Calls for Commission to Study Manufactured‑home Insurance Market
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Summary
Legislators and residents urged creation of a special commission (S.2738) to study rising insurance costs and shrinking competition for manufactured/mobile-home owners, citing large premium spikes, limited carriers and seniors on fixed incomes affected across communities including Taunton and Carver.
Sen. Kelly Dooner told the Joint Committee on Financial Services on Jan. 13 that S.2738 would create a special commission to investigate availability, affordability and regulatory treatment of manufactured- and mobile-home insurance in Massachusetts.
"We have the fair plan here in the Commonwealth, which is great. However, I'm not sure that underwriting has kept up with the housing market here," Sen. Dooner said, adding that some manufactured homes in her district sell for more than $300,000.
Municipal leaders and residents described widespread hardship. Taunton Mayor Shawna O'Connell said Taunton has seven manufactured‑home parks and many residents are seniors or low‑income households whose homes are their primary asset. "For many of these residents, these homes are their most significant asset and really their only path to homeownership," O'Connell said.
Taunton City Council President Barry Sanders told the committee his city has 1,083 manufactured homes. He urged adding a resident representative to the 12‑member commission. "As this bill moves through your process and amendments are made, I respectfully ask that you add language to include anyone who actually lives in a manufactured home community," Sanders said.
Residents described premium jumps and disappearing carriers. Nancy Fitzgerald of Colonial Estates said her Foremost premium rose by $961 between 2022 and 2024 and that a list from the Division of Insurance showed far fewer actual market options than the public was told: "We found that only 2 actually offered coverage in Massachusetts," she said, describing premium increases she said ranged from 34% to 70% in a few years.
Former Taunton councilor Larry Quintel said premiums have jumped dramatically for many homeowners and that the market is concentrated: "Out of approximately 78 insurers operating in Massachusetts, only 14 offer coverage for manufactured homes. Most policies are insured by just 2 companies," he said.
Local officials and advocates urged the commission to gather data on premium drivers, market concentration, policy limits and under‑insurance, and to recommend policy solutions. Several witnesses asked the committee to consider interim relief while the year‑long study proceeds.
The committee did not vote on the bill at the hearing; Chair Paul Feeney closed the testimony and moved on to other agenda items.