The Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act, (HR 906), did not receive the necessary committee markup to advance to the House floor.
The bill, which had been under consideration since last October, seeks to prohibit vehicle manufacturers from impeding a vehicle owner’s access to their vehicle’s data related to diagnostics and repair. It also would also prohibit automakers from impairing a non-OEM parts manufacturer from producing or selling compatible aftermarket parts.
According to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers, while the bill was not marked up, it still deserves recognition for the extensive groundwork laid by its proponents, including U.S. Rep. Neil Dunn of Florida and his team.
"I did want to mention one bill that we will not be considering today, the REPAIR Act, led by Dr. Dunn. I want to recognize the hard work that he, his staff and numerous stakeholders have done," McMorris Rodgers said. “While we aren’t marking it up today, a lot of progress has been made, and I would encourage members and stakeholders to keep working together to find a path forward on this important piece of legislation.”
Advocates for the REPAIR Act have sent more than 100,000 letters to Congress, made more than 10,000 phone calls to representatives, and engaged in various grassroots activities such as hosting lawmakers at businesses and running awareness campaigns.
"The groundwork you’ve helped lay for federal right to repair legislation will be instrumental in our future success," the Auto Care Association said in a statement on the bill.
The Auto Care Association said it plans to provide updates on next steps at the upcoming AAPEX event in Las Vegas, NV. The bill can be reintroduced to Congress in 2025.
Opponents of the bill spoke at the Collision Industry Conference in July, including representatives of the Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) and the Automotive Service Association (ASA).
They said the organizations backing the REPAIR Act, including insurance companies and non-OEM part manufacturers and distributors, are more focused on the aspects of the bill that would give those companies the right to produce non-OEM parts and use them in repairs.
They also pointed out that SCRS and ASA already have a voluntary agreement with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents automakers, guaranteeing independent repairers have access to OEM tools and information.
Wayne Weikel, of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, said his organization, along with SCRS and ASA, had been meeting with members of Congress to explain their position on the REPAIR Act.
