Lawmakers seek clearer definition of recreational vehicles

U.S. Sens. Dan Coats and Joe Donnelly have asked the Department of Housing and Urban Development to adopt a new definition of recreation vehicles they say is clear.

Earlier this year, HUD published a proposed rule that would revise the definition of an RV as "designed only for recreational use and not as a primary residence or for permanent occupancy." That definition would make RVs exempt from manufactured housing regulations. The RVs instead would be subject to Department of Transportation regulations.

HUD had been considering regulating certain park model RVs as manufactured housing, which RV makers said could have meant more restrictive taxing, zoning and consumer lending rules. Indiana is a leading manufacturer of RVs.

In their letter, Coats, a Republican, and Donnelly, a Democrat, encouraged HUD to adopt the rule without inappropriate regulation of other RVs.