Issues
Last night, Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly passed Question 1 “Right to Repair” ballot initiative, 75 percent to 25 percent. This proposal expands upon the previously passed Right to Repair initiative. expanding the scope to include telematics information. This was a hotly contested initiative, and both sides spent millions of dollars in campaign advertising. Advocates said…
This week in Congress, talks continue between Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, other Republican congressional leaders, and members of the Trump Administration to finalize another stimulus package for COVID-19 relief. Speaker Pelosi and Secretary Mnuchin have been negotiating for weeks over the size and scope of the bill. If…
Pennsylvania Senate Bill 745 was defeated on the House floor yesterday evening in a vote of 96 to 105. If passed, SB 745 would have updated the rules for emissions testing in the regions of Pittsburg and Philadelphia for vehicles with a model year of 1996 or newer.
This week in Pennsylvania, SB 745 may come up for a vote in the House of Representatives. SB 745 will update the rules for emissions testing in the regions of Pittsburg and Philadelphia for vehicles 8,501 and 9,000 pounds with a model year of 1996 or newer. This bill removes the requirement for outdated vehicle…
The California Air Resource Board (CARB) sent a letter this week to automakers and other vehicle and engine manufacturers regarding unapproved hardware or software programs in vehicles that interfere with emission control systems. CARB encouraged automakers to disclose any defeat devices or undisclosed modifications designed to shut down or reduce effectiveness of systems otherwise designed…
The Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a streamlined process for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans under $50,000. Loans under $50,000 account for approximately 3.5 million of the 5.2 million total loans issued through PPP. This announcement comes after consistent complaints from small business owners about difficulties they have faced throughout the loan forgiveness process, which…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) released preliminary traffic data yesterday indicating that while the total number of traffic fatalities has decreased in 2020, the rate of traffic fatalities per miles travelled has spiked significantly. NHTSA attributed this trend to increased risky behaviors, such as neglecting seat belts or drinking. Click here to download…
The United States House of Representatives Committee on Small Business conducted a hearing today to discuss ongoing fraud in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and potential remedies. This hearing follows a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that the Small Business Administration (SBA) neglected critical oversight procedures for the PPP, which left the program susceptible to…
California Governor Gavin Newsom released an executive order yesterday requiring that by 2035, all new cars and passenger trucks sold in California will be zero-emission vehicles. In his press release, Newsom cited increased concern about the effects of pollution and climate change caused by gas-fueled vehicles. Although the order prohibits the sale of new…
The U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation convened today in a hearing to discuss the renewed need for federal data privacy legislation. The discussion focused heavily on California’s Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) of 2018, which has been widely viewed as the most progressive data privacy legislation in the United States. However, due to…