Insurance
Missouri Bills Pre-Filed Ahead of Legislative Session would Impact Auto Repairers
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 State legislative lawmakers in Missouri have already introduced a number of bills that could impact automotive repair shops directly or indirectly if they become law. Missouri’s next legislative session doesn’t start until January 8, 2025, but the state allows their legislators to “pre-file” bills before the session begins,…
Read MoreMaine Right to Repair Working Group Debates Suggestions it should Provide to the Legislature
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The Maine Right to Repair Working Group met this week to review a draft report with legislative suggestions that the Maine attorney general would send to elected officials in the state legislature. The attorney general is required by law to submit the report to the legislature by February…
Read MoreASA Leaders Provide Insight on Rising Cost of Auto Repairs in Wall Street Journal Article
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 ASA Board Chairman Scott Benavidez and Incoming Chair Dan Stander provided insight on the causes behind the rising costs of automotive repairs in an article published today in the Wall Street Journal. The owners of Mr. B’s Paint and Body Shop in Albuquerque, NM and FIX Auto Highlands…
Read MoreCalifornia Legislature Passes AV Bill Similar to one Vetoed by Governor Last Year
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The California Legislature passed a bill – AB 2286 – that would prohibit heavy duty vehicles autonomous vehicles (AVs) from driving on roads in the state unless a licensed operator is present in the vehicle. The bill is very similar to a bill that Governor Newsom vetoed last…
Read MoreU.S. DOT Unveils Plans for V2X Deployment
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled plans for the deployment of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology on roadways in the country. Titled, “Saving Lives with Connectivity: A Plan to Accelerate V2X Deployment”, the plan “will guide the implementation of vehicle-to-everything technologies across the nation and support USDOT’s commitment to…
Read MoreFederal Agency Issues Warning on Substandard Aftermarket Airbags
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued a consumer alert regarding substandard replacement airbag inflators that have killed three people and severely wounded two others. In its alert, NHTSA explained that these defective parts were installed after the vehicle in which it was installed was involved in…
Read MoreRhode Island State Senate Passes Pro-OEM Parts Bill
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The Rhode Island State Senate passed a bill that would restrict insurance companies’ ability to refuse to cover OEM repair parts in certain situations. Under the current law in Rhode Island, insurers are not allowed to require the use of non-OEM parts on vehicles that are less than…
Read MoreNew England U.S. Senators Reintroduce the “Used Car Safety Recall Repair Act”
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have reintroduced the Used Car Safety Recall Act. The legislation would prohibit automotive dealers from selling, leasing, or loaning a used vehicle with an outstanding safety recall. Dealers would need to repair the outstanding recall before…
Read MoreFTC to Hold Virtual Informal Hearing on Proposed Rule Prohibiting Junk Fees
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it will hold an informal virtual hearing on April 24, 2024 at 10AM E.T. as part of its review of its proposed rule prohibiting “junk fees.” ASA provided comments to the FTC on this proposal in February in which it raised…
Read MoreVirginia Legislature Advances Bill that would Increase Insurers’ Obligation to Act in Good Faith
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The Virginia House of Delegates’ Courts of Justice Committee: Civil Subcommittee advanced SB 256 with 8 votes in favor and none opposed. It passed the full state senate on a 25-15 vote. If enacted into law, SB 256 would obligate auto insurance companies to make claims decisions in…
Read More