Auto Care State Government Affairs Update: Mar. 2, 2023

by Tod Moore, Manager, Advocacy and Grassroots

What's Moving?

Maryland HB 1193, motor vehicles right to repair bill – The Auto Care Association will testify a hearing in the House Committee on Economic Matters on 3/8.
Maryland HB 712, right to repair bill aimed at farming equipment - The bill has been withdrawn.
MontanaSB 501, revises insurance requirements relating to insurance and automobile repair - Was tabled in the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee and will not be considered again this year.
Utah HB 313, increases the penalty for specific metal thefts including catalytic converters - The bill has passed both the House and Senate and will be sent to the Governor for his consideration.
Virginia SB 1135, would make it a Class 6 felony to sell or purchase a catalytic converter from a motor vehicle exhaust system unless the sale or purchase is made by a scrap metal purchaser - The bill is being sent to the Governor's office for his consideration.
Minnesota HF 30, would establish new penalties for catalytic converter theft and creates provisions for purchase requirements - The bill has been amended in the Senate Rules and Administration Committee and will be read by the Senate for a second time.
Kansas HB 2326, would extend the sunset date on scrap metal theft reduction and add catalytic converters to the act - The bill has passed the House and has been introduced in the Senate.
West Virginia SB 738, a right to repair bill for farm and forestry equipment - Has passed the Senate and will be sent to the House.
Arkansas HB 1365, would amend current law to create offenses for catalytic converter theft - Has passed the House and now in the Senate House Transportation, Technology, and Legislative Affairs Committee.

State News This Week

All legislatures are in session except for Virginia, Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana. Virginia's legislature adjourned last week, and Utah will adjourn this week.

Pennsylvania House Speaker Mark Rozzi (R) resigned this week, with new speaker Joanna McClinton (D) being sworn in.

California's COVID-19 state of emergency ended this week, joining most of the US. Only 5 states still have their emergency orders still: Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas.

Legislation We're Tracking

We are currently tracking 166 pieces of state legislation. Here are the bills we are watching closely:

State	Bill Number	Title	Status
Montana	SB 501	Revise insurance requirements relating to insurer and automobile repair	Has been tabled in the the Senate Business, Labor and Economic Affairs Committee. Will not advance in 2023.
Maryland	HB 712	Consumer Protection - Right to Repair - Farm Equipment	Withdrawn by the sponsor
Maryland	HB 1193	Consumer Protection - Motor Vehicles - Right to Repair	Hearing scheduled for March 8 in the House Economic Matters Committee
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 referred to the Assembly Committees on Judiciary and on Transportation, tentative hearing scheduled for 3/9.
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
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	Read for the second time
Missouri	HB 532	Modifies provisions relating to keeping records for the sale of certain materials	Referred to the House Emerging Issues Committee
Missouri	HB 555	Establishes the offense of unlawful possession of a detached catalytic converter	Referred to the House Emerging Issues Committee
Missouri	SB 92	Establishes the Missouri Rural Workforce Development Act	Reported out of the Senate Economic Development and Tax Policy Committee and placed on the Senate 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 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	Passed the Senate, has been introduced in the House
West Virginia	HB 3384	Agricultural Right to Repair Act	Referred to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee

Statehouse Reports

Maryland Governor Wes Moore (D) has prioritized minimum wage increases, however is facing pushback from the legislature. The proposal would tie minimum wage increases to inflation, but similar legislation has been rejected in the past.

Carvana went on the record supporting a bill in Illinois that would codify home vehicle delivery and e-signatures. The bill, SB 1896, provides that an Illinois licensed motor vehicle dealer can conduct sales activities, including the collection of electronic signatures, via the Internet and deliver vehicles to a customer.

After California enacted and will be implementing the first zero-emissions requirement for in-state cars, there are concerns about the availability of EV batteries. Supply chain and environmental toxins from mineral mining are among the many issues that could hold up the distribution of electric vehicles in the state.

Questions about state legislation? Email tod.moore@autocare.org.

About section background | Auto Care Association

Mike Chung

is director, market intelligence at Auto Care Association. With more than a dozen years of experience in market research, Chung provides the industry with timely information on key factors and trends influencing the health of the automotive aftermarket to help businesses throughout the supply chain make better business decisions. Chung has earned degrees in chemical engineering, environmental health, and business administration. He can be reached at michael.chung@autocare.org.

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