HB 1533 Summary

• Establishes a judicial procedure for community owners to dispose of abandoned manufactured or mobile homes that have been vacant for at least 60 consecutive days through court-ordered public sale by the county sheriff.

• Requires community owners to provide written notice of abandonment to the home owner at least 30 days after vacancy and file a sworn complaint in court containing details of the home, its value, tax status, known liens, and inventory of personal property.

• Court appoints a commissioner to handle sale logistics including advertising the sale in local newspapers and posting at the courthouse, with the sheriff conducting the actual auction to the highest bidder for cash.

• Requires sale proceeds to be distributed in priority order: sheriff fees, back taxes, lienholders by priority, community owner debts and costs, and remaining amounts to the home owner or for demolition costs if the home is uninhabitable.

• Provides good faith liability protection to community owners who comply with the procedure and serve notice by publication, and amends existing law on lost and abandoned property to make these provisions the primary method for disposing of abandoned manufactured homes.