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SB 935

Mobile homes: other; mobile home commission act; revise. Amends secs. 17, 18, 25, 28, 28a & 29 of 1987 PA 96 (MCL 125.2317 et seq.) & adds secs. 28d & 28e. TIE BAR WITH: SB 0934'26, SB 0936'26, SB 0937'26

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Rosemary Bayer and 11 co-sponsors

SB 935 strengthens resident protections and regulatory oversight of mobile home parks, expanding inspections, clearer lease rules, and stricter limits on unfair practices.

referred to Committee on Government Operations
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Bill Summary · SB 935

Summary of SB 935 (2025-2026) – Michigan Mobile Home Commission Act: Revision and Additions

Note: SB 935 ties to SB 934, SB 936, and SB 937 and enacts amendments to the Mobile Home Commission Act (1987 PA 96). The act governs licensing, regulation, and standards for mobile home parks, dealers, installers, and related services in Michigan.

Purpose and intent

  • Modernize and strengthen regulation of mobile home parks and seasonal mobile home parks.
  • Enhance inspector oversight, enforcement, and consumer protections for residents.
  • Expand the commission’s authority to grant variances and set installer/repairer standards and training.
  • Introduce stricter rules around leases, tenancy terms, and utility billing practices to protect residents.

Key provisions and changes

Section 17 — Department inspections

  • Requires the department or its representative to conduct at least annual physical inspections of mobile home parks and seasonal parks.
  • The department must prepare and share findings, including material deficiencies, with the applicable local government and, if deficiencies exist, with secured parties.
  • Local governments: generally may not inspect parks unless there is a violation suspected, except to license determinations.
  • Reinspection: if material deficiencies are found, a reinspection fee of up to $200 may be charged; rules may be promulgated to set this fee.

Section 18 — Variances

  • Establishes procedures for design/construction variances from the code.
  • Local government can approve variances, but certain variances require department approval after notice and hearing.
  • The department may grant specific variances to address exceptional, practical difficulties, with conditions to protect health, safety, and welfare.
  • Variances to local ordinances or rules generally require local government action; variances to rules under the act require commission action.
  • Records of granted variances must be retained for as long as the variance is in effect.

Section 25 — Rules for installation, training, and enforcement

  • The commission shall promulgate rules on responsibilities for installation and setup by mobile home dealers, installers, and park owners.
  • The department must promote uniform enforcement and enhance installer/repairer proficiency, including:
    • Training standards, qualifications, and responsibilities.
    • Criteria for approving educational/training programs.
    • Fees related to reviewing training materials, tests, and instructor qualifications.
  • Licensed trades (under the Skilled Trades Regulation Act) may perform certain work on mobile homes without additional mobile home installer/repairer licensing, except when performing setup or general repair.
  • Some exceptions on electrical, plumbing, and heating/cooling work apply to licensed trades and factory-installed components.

Section 28 — Unfair or deceptive practices

  • Prohibits park owners from a wide range of practices, including:
    • Entrance/exit fees or mandatory on-site purchases as a condition of entry or tenancy.
    • Requiring or coercing purchases from third parties.
    • Unreasonable or unmetered charges for utilities.
    • Using electronic billing systems to impose unfair terms, collect extra fees, or require waivers of rights.
    • Denying written leases, restricting residents’ ability to sell on-site, or restricting antenna installation (unless the park provides a central antenna).
    • Fees not related to services, penalties that are excessive, or changing park use without proper notice.
  • Tenants may bring individual actions for violations.
  • If the park owner’s conduct suggests water utility tariff issues, the commission must report suspected violations to the Michigan Public Service Commission.
  • Utility rate information must be provided to residents upon request.

Section 28a — Park rules on physical condition and aesthetics

  • Parks may regulate physical condition and aesthetics but with safeguards:
    • Age/size of a mobile home cannot be the sole basis to deny on-site sale or residence.
    • Rules must apply equally to all residents and conform to state acts governing mobile home sales.
    • On-site sale charges are regulated; inspection fees up to $30 or the municipality’s building inspection fee, whichever is higher, may apply.
  • If the park changes its business model (e.g., conversion to condo, total rental, or land-use changes), certain prohibitions may not apply following notice.
  • Park owners may require moving a mobile home to a comparable site at the owner’s expense, within specified conditions.
  • Property value protections apply if a tenancy ends for just cause and a resident sells the home to the park owner or related entity.

Section 28d — Lease term requirements

  • Parks must offer leases of at least 1 year.
  • If a lease is shorter than 1 year, it must state that a 1-year lease was offered and declined.
  • Leases must comply with the Truth in Renting Act.
  • Tenants may sue for violations; the clause does not apply to owner-owned homes within the park or subsidiaries.

Section 28e — Lease renewal option

  • Leases for site rentals must include an auto-renewal option, with specified conditions for nonrenewal notice or rent changes.
  • If rent terms change, owners must provide timely notice; if no change, notice must state no changes.
  • Notices may be delivered personally or by first-class mail.
  • A copy of the lease must be provided to the tenant.

Section 29 — Utility shutoff notice

  • Utility providers must notify the department 10 days before shutoff for nonpayment when supplying services to the park owner for tenants.

Enactment and effective date

  • This act is contingent on passage of three other Senate bills (SB 934, SB 936, SB 937) and the governor signing all tied bills into law.

Who is affected

  • Mobile home park and seasonal park owners/operators.
  • Mobile home dealers, installers, and repairers.
  • Tenants/residents of mobile home parks and seasonal mobile home parks.
  • Local governments and the Michigan Public Service Commission (in relation to utility matters).

Timeline considerations

  • Annual inspections required; reinspection fees may apply.
  • Various rulemaking timelines for training programs and variances (subject to final legislative action and regulatory adoption).
  • Lease renewal protections and annual notices require ongoing compliance with enacted dates.

This summary captures the substantive provisions and potential impacts of SB 935, including resident protections, regulatory modernization, and operational responsibilities for park owners and service providers.

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

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