25
September
2025

The 2025 NIADA Policy Conference

Had Us Hopping Right Out Of The Gate

Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee meeting held in Washington, where NIADA members advocated for crucial legislation impacting independent auto dealers.

The 2025 NIADA Policy Conference

I attended the Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Committee meeting upon arriving in Washington. We discussed items at the forefront of discussions with state legislators, items that we would be advocating for on Capitol Hill and items of interest that we need to monitor. Members of this committee regularly collaborate on compliance, legislation and regulation with each other and with Patrick O’Brien, NIADA Director of Government Relations.

The rest of those advocating for the dealers of the NIADA joined our ranks after lunch for panel discussions on Federal regulations, e-titling, tariffs, state level difficulties, regulations and wins. The afternoon featured an update from Helen Clark, Assistant Director in the Division of Financial Practices at the FTC, on the agency’s enforcement in our industry. She expressed that the FTC’s primary areas of concern currently focus on the legitimacy of add-ons, bait-and-switch tactics, deceptive advertising, junk fees and risk based pricing.

The evening concluded with the PAC Dinner. NIADA members from all walks donated to the PAC fund to advance efforts to provide protection from over-regulation and targeting. Rep. Diana Harshbarger (TN) spoke on her personal reasons to cosponsor the REPAIR Act – most notably consumer choice for their service provider allowing more affordable repairs and safeguarding vehicle owners’ information that is collected and retained by OEMs. She emphasized that only through trade associations such as the NIADA can independent businesses make their needs heard.

We hit Capitol Hill running on Tuesday for a day of non-stop meetings ON YOUR BEHALF to discuss and educate on legislation impacting our members:

  • Installing a National framework for recycling of legally obtained catalytic converters by advocating for the PART Act: Preventing Auto Recycling Theft Act (bipartisan bills S.2238 and H.R. 5221), to reduce the rising rate of catalytic converter theft.
    • There are laws in Pennsylvania that outline documentation needed and retention of that documentation to prevent salvors from handling and receiving stolen property – unfortunately, many states do not. Thieves can simply cross state lines to cash in on stolen goods, which this bill would make much more difficult.
    • The PART Act provides structure for the OEMs to begin etching the catalytic converters with VIN#s on new vehicles and a $7 million grant to assist consumers and used vehicle dealers in having tracking numbers etched on those already installed in vehicles.
  • Promoting the Right to REPAIR Act (S. 1379 and H.R. 1566) advocating for consumers, independent auto repair facilities and dealerships.
    • This bill would reduce the time any automotive patent would maintain the OEM’s control over the production of aftermarket parts, return the choice to the consumers of where they prefer to have their vehicle maintained or repaired by removing OEM control and restriction of the ECM/BCM (OEMs claim that the computer in your vehicle contains proprietary software – access to which was not granted by virtue of purchasing the car) and establishes uniform standards for aftermarket parts production.
    • This REPAIR Act would help curtail manufacturers’ control on other goods requiring factory service or parts – reducing the monopoly on “flashing” computers, prohibit lock-outs or embedded cascading failures when the ECM/BCM detect usage of properly functioning aftermarket parts and price gouging on required OEM parts.
  • Reforming the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) creating clarity and consistency to relieve burdensome overregulation on the automobile industry. We asked your Representatives to support both the TABS Act: “Taking Account of the Bureaucracts’ Spending Act” (H.R. 654) and the Rectifying UDAAP Act: “Undefined Descriptions of Abusive Acts and Practices Act” (H.R. 1652). We asked Senators to consider proposing a companion bill.
    • These two pieces of legislation are complementary requesting that the CFPB’s funding be under the Congressional appropriations process to remove the unilateral decision making power of the Director (returning control to those governed) and requiring definitions of terms like “abuse”, “deceptive” and “unfair” be codified so that the CFPB can not redefine terms to suit the particular investigation they are currently pursuing.

We explained our position on the issues and answered questions. We also left documents outlining both our concern and position.

Our visit came to a close with informal discussion and snacks with legislators who visited a reception hosted by the NIADA on Capitol Hill. Multiple Representatives and Senators approached us asking for clarification and further insight, letting us know that our efforts did hit home.

THANK YOU for trusting us to advocate on your behalf! YOUR SUPPORT of our association allows us to bring YOUR VOICE to places that make a difference!

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

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Categories: Dealer News Stories

Kathy Sabaski

Kathy Sabaski

Deputy Executive Director

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