Legislation & Policy - Autobody News

Access news on recent legislation affecting the collision industry, including state and federal laws that impact operational, safety, and environmental standards.

A person’s hand points at a computer monitor in an auto repair shop, with a silver car raised on a blue lift in the background.

Michigan’s New Dealer Data Law Doesn’t Mention Collision Shops. Here’s What It Covers.

The act protects certain data in dealership systems and does not cover vehicle-generated data outside them.

Lisa McArdle

The white dome of the California State Capitol in Sacramento, ringed with columns and arched windows, above a pediment carved with classical figures. A sculpture of a figure holding a spear beside a rearing animal stands at the roofline, with Corinthian columns, a flagpole, and an evergreen tree below against a clear blue sky.

BAR Revises Airbag Rule as Storage, Advertising Packages Advance

Airbag and storage rules are pending state review with a Jan. 1, 2027 target, while an advertising change awaits agency review.

Lisa McArdle

A silver car with a crumpled front fender and hood seen from the driver’s side, with a deployed light blue airbag filling the window behind a side mirror.

Federal Bill Would Require Used-Vehicle Sellers to Disclose Missing or Disabled Airbags

The bill arrives as NHTSA asks the repair industry to watch for banned replacement inflators and lists warning signs for technicians.

Lisa McArdle

CIC Panel Explores How to Win Right-to-Appraisal Laws and Help Customers Use Them

An Illinois association leader explains how the state's new law got passed, while shops describe walking customers through appraisal.

John Yoswick

The U.S. flag, the California state flag, and a black POW/MIA flag fly from a flagpole in front of the white, ornately detailed dome of the California State Capitol.

California Enacts Motor Vehicle Glass Act

Glass-focused shops face new ADAS calibration disclosure, estimate, and invoice requirements under the law.

Lisa McArdle

A blurred person in a dark suit, white shirt, and dark tie holds a stack of white papers and a tan folder with a black binder clip above a light wood table. In the right foreground, a tattooed hand wearing silver rings rests on the table's edge, in sharp focus.

Insurer Files Brief Defending Oklahoma Storage Fee Cap Challenged by Body Shops

Oklahoma Farm Bureau says whether the law is a good idea is a question for legislators, not the court.

John Yoswick

The Texas State Capitol building in Austin, its dome and columned entrance visible under a blue sky.

Texas Pushes Back Deadline for New Right-to-Appraisal Disclosure to 2027

TDI finalized a rule requiring insurers to tell policyholders about their appraisal rights in writing, with the deadline delayed two months after a public comment.

Lisa McArdle

American flag on a pole in front of the U.S. Capitol dome, with white Corinthian columns visible against a blue sky.

Legislative Watch: Massachusetts Appraiser Ruling Takes Effect as States, Congress Weigh Collision Repair Bills

Recent legislative activity affecting collision repair shops, from a new appraiser licensing rule in Massachusetts to a federal right-to-repair deadline.

Lisa McArdle

Low-angle view of the California State Capitol dome and facade, with white Corinthian columns, an American flag and California state flag on a pole in the foreground, palm trees and other trees along the base of the building, against a clear blue sky.

SB 988 Glass Bill Heads to Governor as California Advances Airbag, Tire, and Storage Rules

California's glass repair disclosure bill awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom's decision while regulators move ahead on airbag sourcing, tire efficiency, and storage fee rules.

Lisa McArdle