The Minnesota House Commerce and Labor Committee approved legislation in March that would require an insurer to use an estimating system in its entirety when appraising a damaged vehicle. The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee considered a companion to House File 3822, Senate File 3508, in March as well, but the committee took no action.

In April, a motion prevailed to substitute House File 3822 with Senate File 3508. The House legislation will be indefinitely postponed.

House File 3822 states that an insurer cannot “modify any published manual including, but not limited to, CCC Information Services, Inc., Mitchell International, Audatex, or any other industry recognized automated appraisal system relating to auto body repair unless agreed upon by the insurer and the collision repair facility; fail to use a manual or system in its entirety in the appraisal of a motor vehicle unless agreed upon by the insurer and the collision repair facility; or refuse to compensate an auto body shop for documented charges as identified through industry recognized software programs or systems for paint and refinishing materials in auto body repair claims.”