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.

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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