Auto Care Association State Government Affairs Update: May 8, 2023

by Tod Moore, Manager, Advocacy and Grassroots

what's moving:

• Minnesota SF 2219, is an omnibus commerce bill. On April 27th, it was amended to include digital right to repair language. A larger bill, SF 2744 includes similar language and both bills are now in a two-house conference committee. The R2R language begins on line 30.10 of SF 2219.
• Vermont HB 81, a farm equipment right to repair bill passed out of the Agriculture Committee and is pending on the House floor. The Legislature is due to adjourn on May 10th, so it remains to be seen if there is time to act on the bill prior to that date.
• California AB 727 passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 3rd on a 12 – 4 vote. The bill would prevent the sales of cleaning products, including those for automobiles containing PFAS chemicals from being sold in the state after January 1, 2025. A committee staff analysis of the bill is here.

State News this Week

Thirty-five state legislatures are presently in session.

Iowa, Indiana, Montana and Tennessee have now passed comprehensive data privacy laws amid growing consumer concern over how data is collected and as federal legislation continues to founder. Next in line may be lawmakers in New Hampshire, Oregon and Texas, while a pair of bills is also advancing in Florida.

New York lawmakers passed their 2023 budget more than a month after it was due by state law. A description of the final deal (albeit as described by Governor Hochul’s press office) can be found here.

Legislation We're Tracking

State	Bill Number	Title	Status
California	SB 244	Right to Repair Act	Placed on the Assembly Appropriations Committee's Suspense File
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.	Reported favorably by the Assembly Committee on Transportation with amendments
Colorado	HB 23-1118	Fair Workweek Employment Standards	Has been postponed indefinitely in the Business Affairs and Labor Committee
Colorado	HB 23-1011	Consumer Right to Repair Agricultural Equipment	Signed by Governor Polis
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
Maryland	HB 920	Consumer Protection - Motor Vehicle Glass Repair or Replacement - Advanced Driver Assistance System Recalibration	Has been sent to the Governor's office.
Massachusetts	S 142	An Act Relative to Digital Right to Repair	Referred to the Senate Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
Missouri	HB 698	Changes the laws regarding consumer products so that certain individuals and businesses have a right to repair information from certain manufacturers	Heard in the House Committee on Rural Development with no action taken.
Missouri	HB 532	Modifies provisions relating to keeping records for the sale of certain materials	Is pending on the House floor.
Missouri	HB 555	Establishes the offense of unlawful possession of a detached catalytic converter	Bill has been postponed
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 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 Assembly Transportation Committee
Oregon	SB 542	Relating to a right to repair consumer electronic equipment; prescribing an effective date.	Was re-referred to the Senate Rules Committee
Rhode Island	HB 5731	An Act Relating To Insurance -- Motor Vehicle Replacement Parts (Defines A Used Part And Creates Standards For Use Of Used Parts In Damaged Motor Vehicles, For Motor Vehicle Replacement Parts	Recommended by the Committee to be held for further consideration
Rhode Island	HB 5841	An Act Relating To Commercial Law -- General Regulatory Provisions -- Purchase And Sale Of Precious Metals	Recommended by the Committee to be held for further consideration
Texas	SB 1083	Relating to insurer restrictions and duties regarding repair of a motor vehicle covered under an insurance policy	Has passed the Senate and is pending in the House Insurance Committee.
Texas	HB 3476	Relating to insurer restrictions and duties regarding repair of a motor vehicle covered under an insurance policy.	Referred to the House Insurance Committee.
Vermont	SB 48	An act relating to the Vermont Fair Repair Act	Passed the House and pending on the SenateFloor

Statehouse Automobile Reports

Demand for EV’s is growing so rapidly that some states are pausing their own incentive programs for lack of funds. New Jersey has now joined Oregon in suspending their rebate program, at least temporarily. The New Jersey program provides up to buyers of electric vehicles up to $4,000 when they buy or lease a new vehicle.

Wisconsin’s Assembly passed legislation barring the state and local governments from banning the use of fossil fuels for automobiles and power tools. However, the bill passed along party lines with Democrats opposed. That likely indicates a veto ahead by Governor Tony Evers (D).

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R) signed HB 221, giving the state Insurance Commissioner’s office the authority to review all automobile insurance ratings before they go into effect.

For questions, email govaffairs@autocare.org.

Visit

other blogs

Market Insights with Mike Matters of Import Meet a Staffer Thought Leadership YANG Effect

Welcome to the new YANG Effect! Your one-stop quarterly newsletter for all things Automotive Aftermarket contributed to and written by under-40 industry professionals.

Market Insights with Mike is a series presented by the Auto Care Association's Director of Market Intelligence, Mike Chung, that is dedicated to analyzing market-influencing trends as they happen and their potential effects on your business and the auto care industry.

Subscribe to updates