Although the Massachusetts legislature ended its formal session last week, H.B. 4892, the Right to Repair Bill, remains active on the House agenda. The legislation would require car manufacturers to provide independent repair shops equal access to the diagnostic repair information and tools they provide for their dealer mechanics. The bill is supported by the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of Massachusetts (AASP-MA) and the Coalition for Automotive Repair Equity (CARE), but opposed by the Automotive Service Association (ASA).

Over the course of the recent Massachusetts session, the legislation advanced further than it has in any other state or in Congress, where it has been pending. Also opposed by major auto manufacturers, the bill is backed by the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee and made it to the House floor last week on the House Calendar Orders of the Day.

Stan Morin, chairman of the Massachusetts Right to Repair Committee, said the bill is an “issue of survival” for independent repairers and consumers. Morin added the practice of selectively releasing repair codes and information as “tantamount to a restriction of free trade” and said that legislators "understand quickly how this hurts consumers."

ASA has said efforts to pass the legislation are poor use of industry time and resources, and that “legislation using government agencies and the courts is unnecessary to ensure independent repairers have access to the same service information that is available to dealers.”

Morin added he believes “the tide will turn nationally” on Right to Repair legislation, starting with Massachusetts.

To read our previous stories on H.B. 4892, click HERE or HERE. For ASA’s take on the bill, visit www.takingthehill.org. For the Right to Repair committee’s take, visit www.righttorepair.org and click on “state right to repair legislation.”