Proposals to amend the Commonwealth’s 1972 Appraisers Act that requires physical inspections of collision damaged vehicles and make the sale an installation of non-functioning airbags illegal approved. Yesterday, two pieces of legislation touching upon the collision repair industry in Pennsylvania were approved by the Commonwealth’s House of Representatives in floor votes. House Bill 1638 (HB1638) […]
Hearing Held for Michigan Bill to Ban Insurer-Mandated Procurement Processes
Proponents and opponents of pending legislation that would restrict an insurer’s ability to mandate specific collision repair procurement processes had a chance to outline their positions before the Michigan Senate Committee on Insurance. The Michigan Senate Committee on Insurance held a hearing Wednesday, December 2 on Senate Bill 430 (SB430) that proposes to restrict an […]
Bill to Abolish Massachusetts Appraiser Licensing Board Scheduled for Hearing Tomorrow
Proposed legislation would eliminate the independent body charged with regulation of appraisers. Non-OEM parts and repair facility choice disclosure bill also to be heard. A bill to abolish the Massachusetts Auto Damage Appraiser Licensing Board, (ADALB) before the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Financial Services, is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow, December 1 at 11 […]
ASA Requests Ohio Shops Support Mechanical Registration
The Ohio Senate’s Transportation, Commerce and Labor Committee held a second hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 37. If enacted, S.B. 37 would extend the jurisdiction of the Motor Vehicle Repair Board (MVRB) to include mechanical repairers. Under current law, only collision repair facilities are required to register with the MVRB. This loophole for mechanical repairers […]
Massachusetts Legislators Pass Right to Repair Bill
Compromise with automakers sends last minute bill to Governor’s desk. Massachusetts lawmakers have passed a last minute compromise bill to settle the Right to Repair dispute over OEM diagnostic information. The language of the bill was proposed in a joint letter on Tuesday to lawmakers from car manufacturer associations and the Right to Repair Coalition. […]
Allstate Loses Court Appeal to Strike State Insurer-Owned Shop Ban
Judges affirm earlier decision that Texas law banning insurer-owned shops should stand. The U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit, New Orleans, has affirmed an earlier court’s decision that ruled it is legal for a state to ban insurance company ownership of collision repair facilities. In the initial 2006 decision, a U.S. District Court in Dallas […]
Missouri and North Carolina Get New Salvage Laws
The legislatures of Missouri and North Carolina have both had salvage vehicles on their agenda this year, and it looks like they will both soon have new laws as a result. Introduced in April, North Carolina House Bill 1152 is aimed squarely at total loss and reconstructed vehicle disclosure. The bill proposes requirements to not […]
Senate Introduces Right to Repair Act Companion Bill
Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone yesterday introduced companion legislation to HR 2735 “The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act” introduced in the House last summer by Reps. Joe Barton (R-TX) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY). The new Senate legislation S 2617 has been referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The House bill HR […]
NFIB Comments on Mandatory Mental Health Coverage
NFIB Senior Vice President Dan Danner released the following statement in response to President Bush’s comments in support of legislation that would force employers to offer mental-health benefits: “The road to lost health coverage is paved with good intentions. A well-intentioned costly mandate is still just a costly mandate at its core. No matter how […]
Colorado House Passes Salvage Vehicle Bill
On Thursday, April 25, the Colorado House passed a bill requiring the state to issue a title clearly stating that a salvaged vehicle was “rebuilt from salvage.” National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) Northwest Regional Manager Michael Harrold said the amendment added to House Bill 1189 providing for the new title was a major improvement […]