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Committee adopts 30-day extension for manufactured-home recovery and lays tenant-rights bill over for more work
Summary
Sen. Clark's tenant-rights bill to ban class-action waivers and an A3 amendment affecting manufactured housing (extending writ-of-recovery from 7 to 30 days and returning sale surplus to owners) were debated; committee divided the A3 amendment, adopted the 30-day provision, and laid Senate File 4103 over for further vetting.
Sen. Clark presented Senate File 4103 to prohibit residential leases from preventing tenants from participating in class-action lawsuits and to add protections for manufactured-home owners. An A3 amendment included two principal changes: extending the period to obtain a writ of recovery from seven to 30 days and ensuring any surplus from a park-owner sale of a repossessed manufactured home be returned to the homeowner.
"Class-action waivers force tenants to trade away their ability to defend their rights," Sen. Clark said, adding the A4 authors' amendment includes $300 or actual damages as a penalty option and sets a 30-day cure period for landlords.
Senators debated the manufactured-housing provisions at length. Critics raised concerns that moving from seven to 30 days could prolong an already multi-week eviction process and create opportunities for delay or unintended economic consequences if park owners convert acquired homes to rentals. Sen. Westrom and others urged careful work on surplus and notice language; Sen. Clark and chief author Sen. Abeler said they would continue negotiations and the committee divided the amendment to adopt the 30-day stay while postponing other parts for further drafting.
After amendments were adopted the committee laid Senate File 4103 over to allow additional vetting and stakeholder engagement before floor action.
