Michigan Legislature Considering Bills that could Impact Auto Repairers

Lawmakers in Michigan's state legislature are considering bills that could impact the operations of automotive repairers in the state. Two of those bills are described below:

• Senate Bill (SB) 25 passed 37-0 in the state senate. Currently, repair shops with multiple facilities must register the facilities under separate registrations, even if they are near each other. Among other changes, SB 25 would allow repair shops to register an auxiliary facility under the same registration as the main one, as long as certain conditions are met.
• SB 198 would prohibit a third-party from accessing or permitting access to protected dealer data without the dealer's prior express written consent. "Protected dealer data" includes motor vehicle diagnostic data that is stored in a dealer data system and used to fulfill a dealer's obligation to provide warranty, repair, or service work to consumers. It would also prohibit a manufacturer or a third party from requiring a dealer to grant the manufacturer or third party direct or indirect access to the dealer's dealer data system.