From AAIA Capital Report
BOSTON — The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) reported that on April 26, the State Senate in Massachusetts postponed taking up Right to Repair legislation. The bill has been on the docket for the past several weeks, but consideration has been scuttled due to actions by a small minority of legislators at the behest of the car companies and labor unions, according to AAIA, which is proponent of the bill. However, with their opportunities running out, key Senate and House leaders asked for a two-week delay in order to attempt to work out a compromise bill.
The absence of action by the state legislature means that the May 3 deadline will be missed for taking action on Right to Repair legislation in order to forestall the need for a ballot measure. Thus, the Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition will need to begin a second petition drive to obtain the 11,000 signatures that are required to be submitted to the Massachusetts Secretary of State as the final hurdle for the referendum to be placed on the Nov. 6 ballot. AAIA added that the coalition still has the option of backing away from the voter referendum if the legislature passes Right to Repair legislation before the July 3 deadline for the additional signatures to be submitted to the state.
The latest information on the Massachusetts effort can be found at the coalition website, www.massrighttorepair.com.
