Great news for Right to Repair in Massachusetts

The Committee on Consumer Protection will report our bill (H. 228, as amended, filed by Rep. Garrett Bradley) out of their committee with a favorable recommendation.

The two major amendments offered by the automobile manufacturers were rejected.

Rep. James O'Day offered a myriad of amendments to his bill, H. 282, however Senate Chairman Michael Morrissey recommended that Rep. O'Day take up any of his amendments on the House floor, and that the Bradley version be reported. Rep. O'Day asked for, and was granted a poll of committee-- a choice between our (Bradley's) and O'Day's version of the bill. The poll will close at 5 p.m. today.

Rep. O'Day's bill differs from Rep. Bradley's bill in that it essentially grants ownership of all the vehicle's technology, software, computer systems to the consumer. Bradley's bill does not ask for ownership of this technology, just the right to information necessary to repair the vehicle. Rep. Bill Bowles (D-Attleboro) made a compelling argument for Garrett Bradley's bill, and suggested that Rep. O'Day's bill, though well-intentioned, goes too far into the intellectual property and trade secrets area.

Our understanding is that we have the votes on the committee to prevail, including both Chairmen, who clearly supported our version. Chairman Morrissey also expressed his intent to put the bill out into the Senate.

Thank you all for your indispensable help over the past several days. This is shaping up to be a great day for independent repairers and consumers alike.

Art Kinsman - Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition

To All Independent Repairers and Consumers

We need your help moving Right to Repair legislation in Massachusetts along. Right now we need to catalog more specific instances where an independent repairer had to send a customer back to the dealer to complete a repair due to being denied repair codes and information..........