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WI SB545
WI SB545Manufactured home sales and certificates of title and modifying administrative rules of the Department of Safety and Professional Services related to manufactured home purchase contracts. (FE)
summary
Introduced
10/17/2025
10/17/2025
In Committee
02/12/2026
02/12/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/23/2026
03/23/2026
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This bill makes a number of changes to the regulation of manufactured home sales by the Department of Safety and Professional Services. Under current law, an application for a certificate of title for a manufactured home must include certain information, including the name and address of the owner and a description of the LRB-4932/1 KRP&JK:ajk/klm/cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 545 manufactured home. Under the bill, the application must also include the county in which the manufactured home is situated or intended to be situated. In addition, the bill allows an application, and the accompanying fee, to be submitted to DSPS in an automated format prescribed by DSPS. Under current law, an application for a certificate of title must be delivered directly or mailed to DSPS. Current law requires DSPS to maintain a record of all applications and all certificates of title issued by DSPS. Under current law, the applications and certificates must be indexed according to title number; alphabetically, according to the name of the owner; and in any other manner determined by DSPS. The bill requires DSPS to make the records publicly available and to additionally index the records by the county in which the manufactured home is situated or intended to be situated. In addition, the bill requires DSPS to maintain and make available to the public a record of each manufactured home community in the state. Each such record must include the name of the manufactured home community, the name and contact information of the owner of the manufactured home community, and the physical address of the manufactured home community. Under current law, a certificate of title for a manufactured home issued by DSPS must contain the name and address of the owner; the names of any secured parties in the order of priority; the title number assigned to the manufactured home; a description of the manufactured home, including make, model, and identification number; and any other pertinent data, as determined by DSPS. Under the bill, the certificate of title must also contain the address where the manufactured home is situated or intended to be situated. In addition, the description of the manufactured home must include the year of manufacture. Under current law, no person may engage in the business of selling manufactured homes in this state without first obtaining a license from DSPS. Under the bill, this prohibition is expanded to marketing or listing manufactured homes in this state without first obtaining a license from DSPS. Finally, the bill requires a licensed seller of a manufactured home to use a written purchase contract for each sale of a manufactured home and provide an exact copy of the purchase contract to the purchaser at the time the purchaser signs the offer to purchase the manufactured home. An exact copy must be provided again after the seller accepts the offer if the offer is accepted at a different time than offered by the purchaser. The bill also provides that, unless otherwise specified in the purchase contract, a purchaser[s offer to purchase a manufactured home is automatically terminated if the seller fails to accept or reject the offer by the close of the business day after the purchaser submits the offer. Under the bill, if a purchaser provides a seller with notice that the purchaser is canceling a purchase contract for a manufactured home, the seller must, no later than the close of the business day after the seller receives the notice, return any title for a trade-in unit provided by the purchaser. For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill. LRB-4932/1 KRP&JK:ajk/klm/cjs 2025 - 2026 Legislature SENATE BILL 545
AI Summary
This bill makes comprehensive changes to the regulation of manufactured home sales in Wisconsin, primarily focusing on enhancing transparency and consumer protection. The bill expands the definition of manufactured home dealers to include those who market, list, or attempt to sell manufactured homes, and requires dealers to use written purchase contracts with specific mandatory disclosures. Key provisions include requiring certificate of title applications to include the county where the home is situated, mandating that the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) maintain public records of manufactured home communities, and establishing detailed rules for purchase contracts. The bill also requires dealers to provide exact copies of purchase contracts to buyers at signing and after acceptance, and creates specific guidelines for offer termination, price changes, and contract cancellation. Additionally, the legislation modifies administrative rules related to how manufactured home dealers handle sales, including requirements for trade-in units, down payments, and potential penalties for cancellation. The overall aim appears to be increasing consumer protection and creating more standardized, transparent processes for manufactured home sales in the state.
Committee Categories
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Sponsors (11)
Steve Nass (R)*,
Kelda Roys (D)*,
Eric Wimberger (R)*,
Elijah Behnke (R),
Dan Knodl (R),
Rob Kreibich (R),
Paul Melotik (R),
Jeff Mursau (R),
Jerry O'Connor (R),
David Steffen (R),
Chuck Wichgers (R),
Last Action
Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (on 03/23/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/reg/sen/bill/sb545 |
| SB545 ROCP for Committee on Senate Organization | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/senate_organization/1985016.pdf |
| Senate Substitute Amendment 1 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/SB545-SSA1.pdf |
| Analysis - LC Amendment Memo | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/lcamendmentmemos/2025/REG/SB545.pdf |
| SB545 ROCP for Committee on Insurance, Housing, Rural Issues and Forestry | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/records/senate/insurance_housing_rural_issues_and_forestry/1972583.pdf |
| Senate Amendment 1 | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/amends/2025/REG/SB545-SA1.pdf |
| Fiscal Note - SB545: Fiscal Estimate From DSPS | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/related/fe/sb545/sb545_dsps.pdf |
| BillText | https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/proposaltext/2025/REG/SB545.pdf |
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