Legislative & Government Relations Update

Last month we were honored to host Patrick O’Brien, NIADA Director of Government Relations & Compliance, at the 2025 MidAtlantic Convention & Vendor Tailgate. Those of you who were able to attend heard Patrick explain the desperate need for compliance in dealerships of every size due to several states’ Attorney Generals hiring former CFPB staff. This is absolutely something we highly recommend all dealers are aware of, educated on and take the necessary steps to protect your dealership, but Patrick also touched on the government relations side of what we do and how you can help.

In this month’s article, we’d like to give you an idea of how both MidAtlantic IADA and NIADA advocate for you and ask for your help in helping yourself and fellow dealers. As an Association, we can only do so much to influence legislation and rule-making – YOUR Representatives and Senators want to hear from YOU. We can educate the Legislators, their Aides, Assistants and Staff on upcoming bills but without their constituents (YOU) speaking up and letting them know that these issues are directly affecting real people in their districts, we are only talking heads.

To assist all MidAtlantic IADA members to be more aware and better able to advocate for each other, we will be making some changes to our website:

• The “News & Alerts” tab will show a history of any alerts, bulletins or updates we’ve sent out or posted.
• We will be launching a new “Government Relations” tab – this will be your home base to find out what is going on with legislation and regulation, what we’re doing about it and how you can help.

Under this new tab members will be able to:

1. See any Legislative Articles published to the magazine
2. Review updates received from NIADA
3. Find the contact information for their Federal Legislators
4. View a repository of fact sheets on pending legislation we are advocating on or opposed to and
5. View sample letters for dealers to send to Legislators after customizing and reproducing on their own letterhead

We hope that these additional tools will assist dealers who wish to be involved to be more aware of what’s out there, how it affects your business and better advocate for yourself.

In September, NIADA held a meeting of the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee in conjunction with the National Policy Conference and Day on the Hill. ALL NIADA MEMBERS are ENCOURAGED and WELCOME to attend these events. MidAtlantic IADA visited and spoke with more than thirty aides, assistants, Representatives and Senators over the course of two days on your behalf. We had the opportunity to share experiences and swap stories with independent dealers from across the country, then visit Legislators to give a face and personal voice to what was just another piece of paper to cross their desk.

One of the bills that we have endorsed and are actively keeping on your Legislators’ radar is the REPAIR Act, officially H.R. 1566 and S. 1379, the “Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair Act”.

When this bill is hopefully passed, it will level the playing field between aftermarket parts manufacturers, independent dealerships and independent repair facilities and the OEMs.

H. R. 1566, Section 2(a)(1) reads in part: “A motor vehicle manufacturer may not employ any technological barrier or specified legal barrier that impairs the ability of—

1. a motor vehicle owner (or a designee of a motor vehicle owner) to access vehicle-generated data pursuant to paragraph (2);
2. a motor vehicle owner (or a designee of a motor vehicle owner), an aftermarket parts manufacturer, a diagnostic tool manufacturer, a manufacturer of motor vehicle equipment, an aftermarket parts remanufacturer, or a motor vehicle repair facility (or a distributor or service provider of a motor vehicle repair facility) to access critical repair information and tools;
3. a motor vehicle owner (or a designee of a motor vehicle owner) to use a motor vehicle towing or service provider chosen by such owner (or such designee);
4. an aftermarket parts manufacturer, a motor vehicle equipment manufacturer, an aftermarket parts remanufacturer, or a motor vehicle repair facility (or a distributor or service provider of a motor vehicle repair facility) to produce or offer compatible aftermarket parts;
5. a motor vehicle owner (or a designee of a motor vehicle owner) to diagnose, repair, and maintain a motor vehicle in the same manner as any motor vehicle manufacturer or motor vehicle dealer.”

How it affects you:

• No more having to sublet flashing a BCM or ECM to a franchise dealership or “factory authorized repair center” because they essentially hold the vehicle data hostage.
• No more restrictions are built into the BCMs or ECMs that prevent aftermarket parts within acceptable tolerances from being used.
• No more “I’m sorry, for your vehicle, that part is only available from the manufacturer at a premium” conversations with your customers.
• No more having to spend retail money to recon your inventory because you MUST source your parts from the local franchise dealerships’ parts departments or the franchise dealership has access to complete the repair you can’t even purchase.

For more information on the REPAIR Act and other pieces of legislation that could directly affect your business operations, please stop in and check out the new “Government Relations” tab on our website. Please reach out if you’d like to find out how to support us in representing you by your participation (joining us on Capitol Hill or writing letters) or a monetary donation to the PAC Fund to assist us in forwarding causes important to you.

Donations to MidAtlantic IADA PAC

Funds must be made by check or money order from an individual – and can NOT be accepted from any business entity.

Please contact Kathy for more details on how to get involved or to make a donation to further our efforts.

(717) 238-9002