Mobilehomes and manufactured housing: registration and titling documentation.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide details on how the department will verify electronic signatures.

Mobilehomes and Manufactured Housing: Electronic Signatures

This law allows people who own mobile homes or manufactured houses to use electronic signatures when releasing security interests, starting from January 1, 2028.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to accept an electronically executed signature on a document submitted to release or satisfy a security interest held by a legal owner as of January 1, 2028.
• Treats an electronic signature as having the same force and effect as an original handwritten signature when releasing or satisfying a security interest.
• Prohibits the department from requiring submission of a handwritten signature if someone wants to use an electronic one.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who own mobile homes and manufactured housing
• The Department of Housing and Community Development

Terms To Know

Security interest

A legal claim on a property by someone who has lent money to the owner, usually as collateral.

Electronic signature

An electronic method of signing documents that is recognized legally as valid and enforceable.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if someone tries to use an electronic signature before January 1, 2028.
• It's unclear how the department will verify the authenticity of electronic signatures.

Official Summary Text

AB 2174, as introduced, Johnson.
Mobilehomes and manufactured housing: registration and titling documentation.
Existing law requires specified persons, including legal owners and junior lienholders of manufactured homes, mobilehomes, or commercial modulars, to execute and deliver prescribed documents to the Department of Housing and Community Development to create, assign, or release security interests and to effect changes to the permanent title record maintained by the department. Existing law requires the department, upon receipt of those documents and applicable fees, to amend its records and issue updated certificates or registration documents, and provides remedies if a secured party fails to release its interest as required.
This bill would require the department, on or before January 1, 2028, to accept an electronically executed signature on a document submitted to release or satisfy a security interest held by a legal owner pursuant to these
provisions and to treat that signature as having the same force and effect as an original signature. The bill would prohibit the department from requiring submission of a wet signature for that purpose.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF