Committee advances bill clarifying rights of personal sportsmobile dealers; amendment borrows auto‑dealer protections

The Legislative Committee on Housing and Economic Development advanced LD 2104, a bill that would clarify contractual relationships between manufacturers of personal sportsmobiles and dealers, including a fair and equitable allocation requirement and protections when manufacturers change dealer terms.

An analyst summarized the bill’s key points: allocation rules for new models, definition clarifications, notice requirements for termination (increasing notice from 90 to 180 days in certain sections), and civil‑remedy provisions including attorneys’ fees. Bruce Garrity, appearing for power sports dealers, urged the committee to adapt long‑standing automobile‑dealer franchise protections to the sportsmobile statute. Garrity said the proposed language largely mirrors existing auto dealer law and is not “coming up with this stuff out of whole cloth.”

Committee members adopted drafting changes and a motion that the bill is 'ought to pass as amended.' A roll call recorded members voting in favor (Representative Mingo, Representative Mallon, Representative Golik, Senator Curry, Representative Geer, Representative Collamore, Representative Julia, Representative Peter). The committee closed the public hearing and thanked the bill sponsor and advocates.

What’s next: The committee reported LD 2104 out as 'ought to pass as amended' and the bill will move on for further legislative steps; committee staff will incorporate adopted drafting changes.