From AAIA Capital Report
The Motor Vehicle Owners’ Right to Repair Act was introduced in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on Jan. 8 in the House by Rep. Garrett Bradley, and in the Senate on Jan. 14 by Senator Stephen Buoniconti.
The bill would require manufacturers to provide the same access to service information and tools that they provide their new car dealer franchises. Vehicle owners or repairers would be permitted under the newly-filed bill to seek legal redress if they have been denied equal access to information by filing a complaint with the state attorney general’s office. The legislation would also permit the attorney general to bring civil action to enforce the law.
The newly-introduced legislation builds on the momentum gained last year when the bill was passed by the Joint Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee. While the bill was placed on the House agenda, it failed to obtain any vote due to budget issues that dominated the final days of the session.
The bill is backed this year by a broad coalition of aftermarket and business groups, which includes the New England Service Station Automotive Repair Association; the Massachusetts Auto Body Association; the Massachusetts Independent Automobile Dealers Association; and the New England Tire & Service Association. Also supporting the Right to Repair movement in Massachusetts is National Federation of Independent Business; the Massachusetts Retailers Association; the Consumer Electronics Association; and the Coalition for Auto Repair Equality.
