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LD 1768

An Act To Protect Residents Of Mobile Home Parks By Amending The Real Estate Transfer Tax

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Donna Bailey and 8 co-sponsors

Exempts mobile home park purchases by residents from Maine's real estate transfer tax, enabling resident ownership and preserving affordable housing; modest fiscal impact.

Signed by Governor
#mobilehomes #propertytax #transfertax
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Bill Summary · LD 1768

Summary — LD 1768: An Act To Protect Residents Of Mobile Home Parks by Amending the Real Estate Transfer Tax

Purpose

LD 1768 creates a targeted exemption from the Maine real estate transfer tax to make it easier for residents of mobile home parks to purchase the park they live in. The intent is to support resident ownership and preserve affordable housing in mobile home communities.

Key provisions

  • Exempts from the Maine real estate transfer tax purchases of mobile home parks when the purchaser(s) are residents of that park. (The engrossed bill was passed with Committee Amendment "A" (S‑216).)
  • Requires administrative changes in the Bureau of Revenue Services to implement the exemption.
  • Anticipated administrative changes to the Maine State Housing Authority (MSHA) are expected to be minor and manageable within existing resources.

(The bill text itself is not included here; the summary reflects the fiscal note and legislative actions.)

Who is affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: residents of mobile home parks who form or otherwise purchase their park (resident buyers). These purchasers would not pay the usual real estate transfer tax on such transactions.
  • State government: Bureau of Revenue Services (implementation and programming), Maine State Housing Authority (minor administrative changes).
  • State funds: Certain dedicated housing funds that receive transfer‑tax revenue allocations will see small reductions.

Fiscal impact (approved fiscal notes)

  • One‑time General Fund appropriation to Bureau of Revenue Services: $53,000 (FY 2025‑26) for computer programming/implementation.
  • Net General Fund cost/(savings):
    • FY 2025‑26: $55,000 (approx. $53,000 appropriation + ~$2,000 revenue loss)
    • FY 2026‑27 and thereafter (projected): $2,500 per year net cost
  • Revenue reductions (estimated):
    • General Fund loss: $2,000 (FY25‑26); $2,500 (FY26‑27 and ongoing)
    • Other Special Revenue Funds (dedicated housing funds administered by MSHA):
    • Housing Opportunities for Maine (HOME) Fund: −$3,500 (FY25‑26); −$5,000 (FY26‑27)
    • Housing First Fund: −$2,000 (FY25‑26); −$2,500 (FY26‑27)
    • Combined reductions to Other Special Revenue Funds: −$5,500 (FY25‑26); −$7,500 (FY26‑27); projected −$8,000 (FY28‑29)

Legislative status and timeline

  • Introduced: April 23, 2025; referred to the Committee on Taxation.
  • Committee amendment C "A" (S‑216) adopted.
  • Passed both chambers (House vote 79–69; Senate votes across June 2–3) and sent for concurrence.
  • Placed on Special Appropriations Table pending enactment; removed and enacted.
  • Signed by the Governor: July 1, 2025 (became law upon signature).

Notes and caveats

  • The summary is based on available fiscal notes and legislative actions. It does not quote the full statutory amendment language; specific eligibility definitions (e.g., how “resident” is defined, whether resident‑owned entities/co‑ops qualify) should be confirmed in the enacted bill text for legal or administrative use.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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