A Maryland bill (S.B. 209) that would have regulated the use of salvaged airbags has been withdrawn from the Senate. The bill was based on a model bill created by the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) that repairers opposed.
At the time of the bill’s introduction, the Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association (WMABA) warned that regulating the use of salvaged airbags could lead more insurance companies to call for them in repairs to cut costs and subsequently put consumers in danger.
On Feb. 5, WMABA sent a notice to repairers urging them to oppose this bill, citing many reasons that repairers and consumers could be harmed. Many repairers took the initiative to contact representatives on the Senate Finance Committee, which was hearing the bill first, WMABA says. Though these actions were taken immediately, WMABA was unsure of the response that would be seen in the bill hearings.
On Feb. 15, the Maryland Senate Finance Committee unanimously voted to withdraw S.B. 209 without foreseeable reintroduction.
"This outcome was no doubt the result of WMABA, our lobbyist group Alexander Cleaver and our Maryland constituents giving useful and pertinent information to the Senators, so that they could make an informed and consumer-conscientious decision," said Brad Whiteford, WMABA president and owner of Whiteford’s Collision. "All WMABA membership should be proud of the efforts of the association to head-off such a possible disaster for repairers throughout the country, because we all know how bills like these increase the chances for other special interests to attempt this in other states."
More information:
• Washington Metropolitan Auto Body Association
