This week, the Wisconsin State Legislature passed legislation, AB 230, to create an RV-specific franchise law governing the manufacturer-dealer relationship for towable RVs.
The bill now heads to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers for his signature. Once signed, Wisconsin will become the 19th state to have RV-specific franchise legislation. Other states with legislative protections are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
RVIA and the Wisconsin RV Dealers Alliance negotiated together on Wisconsin’s legislation. Both groups strongly supported its approval. State Rep. Scott Krug (R-Nekoosa) and state Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) led the bill passage.
During his testimony on the legislation, RVIA Director of State Government Affairs Michael Ochs said its passage would strengthen the towable RV industry’s viability in Wisconsin.
“Consumers will benefit from this better relationship between RV manufacturers and dealers,” Ochs said, “since the legislation will improve cooperation between the two on warranty matters, pre-delivery inspection and other issues.”
Over the years, the RV industry has established exemptions from parts of the automobile franchise law because many provisions do not pertain to the RV industry or are handled differently by RV manufacturers and dealers.
RVIA advocated for an RV-specific franchise law to place the manufacturer-dealer relationship for towable RVs in a separate chapter of law, creating more clarity for RV businesses and consumers.
