REPAIR Act Codifying Right to Repair Vehicles Passes First Hurdle in House Subcommittee, Support Still Needed

By the SEMA Washington, D.C., office

The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce has passed H.R. 906, the "Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act." The subcommittee voted on 16 pieces of legislation to improve product safety, secure supply chains, bring consumer transparency on hidden fees and protect consumers' right to repair their motor vehicles. The Energy & Commerce Committee can now consider the SEMA-supported REPAIR Act. SEMA continues to advocate for the REPAIR Act to be amended in committee to expand the legislation to protect the right to modify our motor vehicles. 

The bipartisan legislation would ensure that the aftermarket industry will have access to the tools and repair information necessary to produce and install parts used to repair cars, trucks and SUVs that we love as an industry. SEMA supports expanding the legislation to protect our right to modify. We are seeking changes to the bill to: 

• Prevent vehicle manufacturers from employing any technological, legal or cryptographic barriers that impede the ability of an aftermarket parts manufacturer or a vehicle repair facility to produce or install aftermarket parts and software that are custom or modify a vehicle. 
• Amend the bill's cybersecurity provision to ensure that motor vehicle owners and their designees can access cryptographic or technologically protected vehicle-generated data and safety-critical vehicle systems. 
• Amend how the bill defines "critical repair information and tools" to include advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) recalibrations necessary to return a vehicle to operational specifications. 

The REPAIR Act was introduced by U.S. Representatives Neal Dunn (R-FL), Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Warren Davidson (R-OH) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA). The bill currently has 46 co-sponsors (23 Republicans and 23 Democrats).  

Click here to send a letter to your U.S. Representative asking them to support and expand the REPAIR Act to protect our right to modify vehicles.  

For more information, contact Eric Snyder at erics@sema.org or visit sema.org/advocacy/right-to-repair.