Auto Care Association State Government Affairs Update: Jan. 17, 2025

What's moving?

• Bills on Electronic and Appliance Product Repairs; Regulations:

  • AL HB 75 will be read by House committee on Feb. 5, 2025. This bill establishes timely wheelchair repair obligations for dealers and grants disciplinary authority to the Board of Home Medical Equipment.

  • NE LB 111 was referred to committee on Jan. 14, 2025. The legislation mandates that insurers inform and obtain consent from consumers before using non-OEM parts in vehicle repairs, ensuring these parts meet quality standards, and imposes penalties for non-compliance.

  • FL SB 92 was referred to Senate committee on Jan. 15, 2025. The legislation requires motor vehicle repair shops to obtain crash reports or prepare transaction forms for costly repairs, mandates record-keeping and reporting to law enforcement, and introduces penalties for non-compliance, effective July 1, 2025.

  • NJ S.3737 was referred to Senate committee on Jan. 14, 2025. The legislation updates greenhouse gas monitoring and reporting requirements in New Jersey, emphasizing indirect emissions, a 20-year global warming potential calculation, and mandates immediate implementation with specific timelines for reporting.

  • WA SB 5091 was referred to Senate committee on Jan. 13, 2025. The legislation revises Washington State's motor vehicle emission standards to align with federal guidelines, prohibits adopting California's standards, updates vehicle registration and emission testing requirements, and repeals the mandate for California certification.

  • OR SB 19 was referred to Senate committee on Jan. 13, 2025. The legislation exempts vehicles and engines less than six years old from emissions testing by amending Oregon's existing statute on pollution control requirements.

  • RI HB 5017 was referred to House committee on Jan. 10, 2025. The legislation mandates that manufacturers of assistive technology devices, such as wheelchairs and scooters, provide necessary repair resources to independent providers and owners, prohibits restrictive practices, and classifies violations as deceptive trade practices, effective immediately upon passage.

  • NY S.1459 was referred to Senate committee on Jan. 10, 2025. The legislation establishes a framework for producer responsibility in recycling household appliances and refrigerants, setting recycling targets and prohibiting improper disposal, with compliance enforced through penalties and a dedicated fund.

  • MA SD (Senate Draft) 340 was filed on Jan. 12, 2025. The legislation mandates stricter safety standards for vehicle glass in Massachusetts, requiring compliance with specific national and federal standards and authorizing registration suspension for non-compliance.

     

• Bills on Right to Repair and Equipment:

  • MA HD (House Draft) 1300 was filed on Jan. 14, 2025. The legislation amends the right to repair motor vehicle data law by requiring a telematics system notice in vehicle manuals starting with the 2026 model year, detailing data access and repair rights.

  • OR SB 550 was referred to Senate committee on Jan. 13, 2025. The bill expands Oregon's right to repair law to include electric wheelchairs and complex rehabilitation technology, requiring manufacturers to provide repair tools and parts on fair terms, with compliance reporting due by December 31, 2025.

  • RI HB 5017 was referred to House committee on Jan. 10, 2025. The legislation mandates that manufacturers of assistive technology devices, such as wheelchairs and scooters, provide necessary repair resources to independent providers and owners, prohibits restrictive practices, and classifies violations as deceptive trade practices, effective immediately upon passage.

  • IN HB 1060 was referred to House committee on Jan. 8, 2025. The bill mandates manufacturers to provide independent service providers and owners with access to repair resources for consumer electronics and agricultural equipment, with specific provisions for documentation and parts, effective July 1, 2025.

  • VA HB 2483 was pre-filed on Jan. 8, 2025. The Digital Right to Repair Act mandates OEMs to provide repair resources on fair terms while protecting trade secrets, with applicability starting January 1, 2026, and includes penalties for non-compliance.

  • MD HB 31 had a hearing scheduled for Jan. 21 at 1pm EST. The legislation requires powered wheelchair manufacturers to provide repair resources to independent providers and owners, amending existing laws to include these provisions as part of consumer protection against unfair practices, effective October 1, 2025.

   

• Bills on Workforce:

  • NY S.37 was referred to Senate committee on Jan. 8, 2025. The legislation establishes a youth apprenticeship program, an enhanced Regents professional diploma, and a tax credit for employers, with funding and regulatory changes to improve career readiness for high school students in New York.

State News

Thirty-nine state legislatures are in regular session.

• Maine car dealers now must notify buyers of their right to access mechanical data collected by manufacturers through vehicle telematics systems, as part of the state’s new Right to Repair law. While the law enables car owners to authorize independent repair shops to use this data, the specifics of enforcement and manufacturers' compliance remain under review by the attorney general’s working group.

  • Maine’s Right to Repair Working Group will hold a meeting on Jan. 17 to revise its draft report. The report will include recommendations for legislation to establish an entity with rulemaking and enforcement authority over motor vehicle telematics systems. Meeting information may be found here.

• The Vermont Climate Council is set to release its second Climate Action Plan this summer, which could include a major proposal to join a regional cap-and-invest program targeting vehicle emissions. The plan’s timing, however, means most recommendations won't be considered until next January, delaying critical action on policies aimed at reducing emissions from vehicles.

• California has withdrawn its groundbreaking regulations phasing out diesel trucks and requiring cleaner locomotives, citing expected opposition from the incoming Trump administration. State officials say the move delays critical measures to combat air pollution and climate change.