Ohio Senate Local Government Committee - 6-3-2026

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Ranking Member Smith? Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Thank you, Senator Chair O'Brien, Vice Chair Gaviron, Ranking Member Smith, my senator, and members of the Senate Local Government Committee. I am John Monroe. I'm a board member of Ohio Manufactured Home Association. It's basically the trade association for owners of manufactured home parks in Ohio. I'm an attorney and a shareholder and treasurer of Mansour Gavin LPA in Cleveland. Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments in support of Senate Bill 435 I been practicing in law in Ohio for over 32 years Over half my practice is currently devoted to manufactured home law I have prosecuted literally hundreds of abandoned title cases in several different municipal courts throughout Northeast Ohio. The purpose of the proposed revisions, the Ohio abandoned manufactured home laws, which is ORC 1923, 12, 13, and 14, is to provide uniformity throughout the municipal courts in the state of Ohio in the application of these laws. Currently, there are more than 100 different applications of the MHI laws in Ohio courts due to the vagueness of the current laws. The proposed revisions provide uniform court orders and procedures to be used by Ohio municipal courts that specifically address the categories of abandoned manufactured homes. These proposed revisions have been requested by judges across Ohio, with one judge stating that the current abandoned home statute was written by committee and offers no guidance to the courts. These revisions are intended to offer Ohio court judges an easier process to follow and specific court orders to be filed with the motion. The proposed revisions will not change any evidentiary due process requirements in current laws. The same evidence of abandonment is still mandated, but with the streamlined procedure to permit Ohio courts to process judicial motions and evidence in an easier manner. Current threshold values for abandoned homes needs to be increased from $3,000 to $10,000. Currently, there are county auditors who have placed different minimum values, including one county auditor who has already raised the minimum value despite the law. The fact is the minimum value has not changed in over 20 years since the laws were initially passed. $10,000 would create a uniform value and satisfy the county auditors. ORC 1923-13 B as in boy already provides the form for the court order of abandonment, but is confusing to judges and clerk of courts as well The proposed revisions would provide a streamlined process for court orders for abandoned manufactured home worth less than and court orders that require a public auction for those valued over $10,000. The current form mixes both categories, leaving not only judges to be frustrated, but the clerk of courts who have to process the court orders. As a result of the current state of ORC 1923-13, Bias and Boy, courts have created their own court orders, sometimes changing the General Assembly's intention for certain evidence to be presented. The result of so many iterations and so many court orders has created confusion throughout Ohio, notably for the Ohio County auditors and clerk of courts who are trying to process the corridors. Thank you, Madam Chair and members of the committee, for the opportunity to testify in support of Senate Bill 435. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have about abandoned title laws in Ohio. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Thank you, Mr. Monroe, for being here. Not a question, just a sign of appreciation. Appreciate your testimony. And the quote from the judge was very funny. And hopefully we will act on your wise counsel. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Chair. And I, too, don't have a question, but I think that your testimony goes a long way in support of the bill, and I thank you for coming in today. And, again, I think it means a lot to me as a bill sponsor, and I think that it's going to go a long way having you here today. Thank you very much.

Okay. John, I just have a comment. I served as county auditor for 12 years. We should have done this years ago, really. So it's a good bill.

The county auditors have to sign off on this valuation.

Right, because obviously, you know, auditors are always keeping their eye on real estate, what it's worth. I mean, that's what we do. That was part of our job.

Yeah, I like that part of it, too. Okay. So hopefully we'll be good to go.

Thank you. Okay, thank you. Okay. Okay, members, there is written testimony on your iPads. This will stand as the second hearing on Senate Bill 435. Next, we have a third hearing on Senate Bill 366. My office did not receive any testimony, so this will stand as the third hearing on Senate Bill 366. Finally, we have a third hearing on amended House Bill 428. There is written testimony on members' iPads. My office did not receive any in-person testimony, so this will stand as the third hearing on amended House Bill 428.

Hang on a second.

It was written.

Oh.

You're good.

Yeah.

Okay.

Okay.

Thank you.