advocacy-in-action
March 9, 2023

Auto Care State Government Affairs Update: Mar. 9, 2023

by Tod Moore, Manager, Advocacy and Grassroots

What's Moving 

·    Kansas HB 2326, would extend the sunset date on scrap metal theft reduction and add catalytic converters to the act - The bill will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 14 at 10:30am.

·    Nevada AB 262, would give state agencies preference to the purchase of vehicles and fuels - Has been introduced and referred to the House Committee on Growth and Infrastructure.

·    Arkansas HB 1365, would amend current law to create offenses for catalytic converter theft - Has passed both chambers and is being sent to the Governor's office for enactment.

·    Illinois SB 2399, would repeal language making provisions for reassignment by dealers also applicable to salvage certificates - Has passed the Transportation Committee with a Do Pass recommendation and was placed on the Senate calendar.

·    Florida SB 422, a right to repair bill for agricultural equipment - Has been introduced in the Senate.

·    Florida H 533, a right to repair bill for agricultural equipment - Has been referred to the Regulatory Reform and Economic Development Subcommittee in the Commerce Committee.

·    Texas HB 1606, a right to repair bill for electronic equipment - Has been referred to the House Business and Industry Committee.

·    Texas HB 515, a right to repair bill for electronic equipment - Has been referred to the House Business and Industry Committee. Auto Care has submitted testimony requesting an amendment to include the automotive aftermarket.

·    Mississippi HB 588, the MS Workforce Training and Education Act - Has passed both the House and Senate and will be sent to the Governor's office. 

State News This Week

All states are in session, except for Utah, Wyoming, Louisiana, and Virginia

Florida and Alabama begin their sessions this week. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey (R) delivered her state of the state address to begin Alabama's 2023 session. She requested a special session on tax rebates and also emphasized the need to improve funding for K-12 education. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) also made his state of the state speech, and announced he will be making a stop in Iowa with Governor Kim Reynolds (R) for a panel discussion. 

The Auto Care Association went to Annapolis this week to testify on HB 1193, a right to repair bill. The legislation was heard in the Maryland House Committee on Economic Matters (see the Fiscal and Policy Note).

Tod Moore and Dwayne Myers Testify Maryland Right to Repair

Legislation We're Tracking

We are currently tracking 182 pieces of state legislation.

Here are the bills we are watching closely:

 

State

Bill Number

Title

Status

Maryland

HB 712

Consumer Protection - Right to Repair - Farm Equipment

Withdrawn by the sponsor

Maryland

HB 1193

Consumer Protection - Motor Vehicles - Right to Repair

Auto Care testified in support on 3/8. Votes are still being determined.

Maryland

HB 920

Consumer Protection - Motor Vehicle Glass Repair or Replacement - Advanced Driver Assistance System Recalibration

Hearing scheduled for March 1 in the House Economic Matters Committee

Georgia

SB 60

Secondary Metals Recyclers; it shall be illegal for certain persons to purchase, possess, obtain, or sell or attempt to purchase, possess, obtain, or sell

Was passed by the Senate and is pending assignment to a House Committee

Georgia

SB 70

Secondary Metals Recyclers; it shall be illegal for certain persons to purchase, possess, obtain, or sell or attempt to purchase, possess, obtain, or sell; provide

Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

California

SB 244

Right to Repair Act

Referred to the Judiciary Committee

California

AB 473

This bill would prohibit additional acts, including allocating vehicles, parts, accessories, and other items inconsistent with specified standards. The bill would also require the board to make a franchisor’s vehicle allocation schedule available for inspection by any franchisee.

Has been re-referred to the Judiciary Committee and amended.

Colorado

HB 23-1118

Fair Workweek Employment Standards

Referred to the Business Affairs and Labor Committee, had second reading with no amendments added

Colorado

HB 23-1011

Consumer Right to Repair Agricultural Equipment

Introduced in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

Hawaii

HB 53

Right-to-repair; Digital Electronic Equipment; Repairs; Original Equipment Manufacturers

Committee recommends the bill is deferred

Hawaii

HB 1287

Relating to the Right to Repair

Was referred to the House Consumer Protection and Commerce and the Finance Committees

Massachusetts

HD 557

An Act Relative To Disclosure Notice In The Right To Repair Motor Vehicle Data Law

Filed

Massachusetts

HD 2473

An Act Establishing The Fair Calculation Of Labor Rates Paid By Insurance Companies To Auto Repairers In The Commonwealth.

Filed

Missouri

HB 698

Changes the laws regarding consumer products so that certain individuals and businesses have a right to repair information from certain manufacturers

Referred to the House General Laws Committee

Missouri

HB 532

Modifies provisions relating to keeping records for the sale of certain materials

Was voted out of Committee in Executive Session with a "Do Pass" recommendation

Missouri

HB 555

Establishes the offense of unlawful possession of a detached catalytic converter

Bill has been postponed

Missouri

SB 92

Establishes the Missouri Rural Workforce Development Act

Has been placed on the Senate Informal Calendar

Montana

SB 347

Revise right to repair laws relating to agriculture

Tabled

Nebraska

LB 782

Change provisions relating to salvage branded certificates of title and consumer care of motor vehicles

Amended in the Transportation and Communications Committee

New Mexico

SB 50

Right to Repair Act

Reported with a "Do Pass" recommendation on the substituted version out of the Tax, Business, and Transportation Committee

New Jersey

A 3612

Concerns Right to Repair Farm Equipment and Lawn Mowers

Referred to the Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee

New York

A 210

In the repair of a collision damaged motor vehicle, no motor vehicle repair shop or insurer shall deviate from the collision repair guidelines, procedures, recommendations and service bulletins...

Referred to the Insurance Committee

New York

A 2263

Requires motor vehicle repair shops to disclose certain information to customers

Referred to the Transportation Committee

Oregon

SB 542

Relating to a right to repair consumer electronic equipment; prescribing an effective date.

Hearing held on 2/14, no action taken

Vermont

S 46

An act relating to the Vermont Fair Repair Act

Referred to the Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

West Virginia

SB 738

Equipment Right to Repair Act

Has been introduced in the House Judiciary Committee

West Virginia

HB 3384

Agricultural Right to Repair Act

Referred to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee


Statehouse Reports

The American Farm Bureau and CNH Industrial brands, Case IH and New Holland signed an MOU on the right to repair. CNH Industrial brands information and parts are now accessible to farmers and independent repair facilities.

A Massachusetts court filing confirmed that they will be enforcing the new right to repair law starting June 1. The law was approved by voters in 2020. Some car manufacturers have stopped including wireless technology to avoid the right to repair regulations.

The Michigan House passed a repeal of the right-to-work law, which would repeal the option for workers in unionized jobs to choose whether they should pay union dues and fees.

States are beginning to take action to mitigate widespread workforce shortages. In Virginia, Governor Glen Youngkin (R) signed a bill into law that would allow 85 occupational licenses issued in other states to also practice in Virginia. Meanwhile, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum (R) is looking to alleviate large workforce shortages by turning toward automation and large machinery to fill the jobs. New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) announced that the State Office of Strategic Workforce Development has over $7 million in grants to fund training of workers in advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and construction

Questions about state legislation? Email govaffairs@autocare.org.

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