The Automotive Service Association is the largest not-for-profit trade association of its kind serving an international membership base that includes numerous affiliate, state and chapter groups from all segments of the automotive service industry. http://www.TakingTheHill.com The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation that delays for 15 months toxic air standards for industrial boilers. H.R. 2250, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, aims to protect hundreds of thousands of jobs by providing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with additional time to reconsider and improve proposed boiler rules. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/oct2011/PR59.htm California Gov. Edmund Brown has signed into law CA S.B. 869, legislation that amends current law regulating automotive repairers. The new law amends the Automotive Repair Act. It provides that an automotive repair dealer who prepares a written estimate for repairs that includes the replacement of a deployed airbag and then fails to restore the airbag, as specified, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a $5,000 fine, one-year imprisonment in a county jail, or both the fine and imprisonment. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/oct2011/PR58.htm The city of Houston's proposed Automotive Repair and Collision Shop Licensing regulation in its current form would place a great deal of paperwork burden and liability on the shop owner, yet falls short in other requirements such as technician training and equipment. ASA opposes this proposed regulation in its current form. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/sept2011/PR57.htm U.S. Sen. John D. Rockefeller, D-W.V., chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., recently introduced a bill in the Senate titled the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/aug2011/pr56.htm The House Committee on Financial Services' Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity recently held a hearing on Insurance Oversight: Policy Implications for U.S. Consumers, Businesses and Jobs. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/aug2011/pr55.htm Bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works have introduced S. 1392, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/july2011/pr54.htm The United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently produced a report on the auto safety defect recall process, by reviewing laws, documents and conducting interviews, in response to questions raised by the U.S. Congress. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/july2011/pr53.htm In a report released by Kimberly-Clarke, information was revealed regarding the use of towels and the exposure to chemicals in automotive repair shops. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/july2011/pr52.htm A joint committee hearing was held by the Consumer Affairs and Transportation committees of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on "Right to Repair." http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/june2011/pr50.htm The House Small Business Committee held a full committee hearing titled, "Access to Capital: Can Small Businesses Access the Credit Necessary to Grow and Create Jobs?" http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/june2011/pr49.htm Automotive Service Association (ASA) collision leaders included vehicle disclosure legislation and replacement crash parts notice and consent among top issues discussed recently on Capitol Hill. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/may2011/pr48.htm Automotive Service Association (ASA) collision leaders met recently with top U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Compliance officials to discuss the EPA automotive refinishing regulation. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/may2011/pr47.htm The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking additional public feedback and gathering more information on the final standards for boilers and certain solid waste incinerators that were issued in February of this year. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/may2011/pr46.htm Georgia House Bill 388, which aims to create a sales tax on services of many small businesses, is still alive in the Georgia Legislature. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/may2011/pr45.htm Automotive Service Association (ASA) collision leaders included the Insurance Modernization report in their top issues discussed recently on Capitol Hill. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/may2011/pr44.htm Automotive Service Association (ASA) leaders met recently with key members of Congress and congressional staff to discuss the importance of vehicle safety inspection programs. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/may2011/pr43.htm The Automotive Service Association (ASA) hosted its 2011 "Taking the Hill" day in Washington, D.C., for its members this week. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/may2011/pr42.htm Hawaii State Gov. Neil Abercrombie has vetoed legislation that would dilute the state's Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Program by exempting vehicles from testing for their first two to three years. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/may2011/pr41.htm Language in Florida House Bill 5005 that would repeal Florida's law requiring the registration of motor vehicle repair shops, the Motor Vehicle Repair Advisory Council, and the regulation of motor vehicle repair has been omitted in a budget conference report. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/may2011/pr40.htm The Automotive Service Association (ASA) testified before the House Ways and Means Committee of the Texas General Assembly in Austin, Texas, about an inequity in the current Texas Franchise Tax code. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/april2011/pr39.htm South Carolina state Sen. David Thomas, R-Seneca, pre-filed legislation mirroring that of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators' (NCOIL) Model Act Regarding Motor Vehicle Crash Parts and Repair in December 2010. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/april2011/pr38.htm The House Small Business Committee held a committee hearing to review the current tax code and find ways to modify it to help small businesses grow. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/april2011/pr37.htm The U.S. Senate has passed H.R. 4, the "Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011," which repeals the 1099 reporting mandate in the new health care law by a vote of 87-12. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/april2011/pr36.htm Florida House Bill 5005, "Deregulations of Professions and Occupations," sponsored by Rep. Esteban Bovo Jr., R-Dist. 110, includes provisions that would repeal Florida's law requiring the registration of motor vehicle repair shops with the Motor Vehicle Repair Advisory Council and the regulation of motor vehicle repair. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/april2011/pr35.htm Hawaii state Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, D-Dist. 14, has introduced legislation that would dilute the Hawaii State Motor Vehicle Safety Inspection Program by exempting vehicles from testing for their first two to three years. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr34.htm The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has changed rules, making it easier for manufacturers to sell fuel conversion systems. The fuel conversion systems allow vehicles to run on alternative fuels. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr33.htm Members of the United States Senate are considering a number of legislative options to expand scrutiny of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other agencies' rules. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr32.htm Texas state Sen. Mike Jackson, R-Dist. 11, has introduced Senate Bill 944, which would create an automotive insurance advisory board. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr31.htm The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced legislation that would prevent the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gases to address climate change. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr30.htm Rhode Island state Sen. Maryellen Goodwin, D-District 1, Providence, has introduced Senate Bill 661 and Senate Bill 685, which if passed would impact the collision repair industry. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr29.htm A hearing was held today in Salem, Ore., before the Oregon House Committee on Business and Labor involving right to repair legislation. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr28.htm North Carolina state Sen. Stan Bingham, R-Dist. 33, has introduced legislation that would harm the North Carolina state safety inspection program by exempting new vehicles from testing for their first six years. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr27.htm The U.S. Senate voted to pass Sen. Patrick Leahy's, D-Vt., America Invents Act (S. 23) in an 87-3 vote. Leahy is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr26.htm In 2010, The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a significant new use rule (SNUR) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the chemical substance, HFO-1234yf. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr25.htm At the National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) spring meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the Property and Casualty Insurance Committee voted against the proposed Model Act Regarding Motor Vehicle Crash Parts and Repair. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr24.htm The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 4, the "Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011," which repeals the 1099 reporting mandate in the new health care law, by a vote of 314-112. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr23.htm Legislation has been proposed in the Oregon House of Representatives that would require manufacturers of motor vehicles to make tools, information, software and wireless capabilities available to owners, owners' designees and vehicle repair shops. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr22.htm The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has joined a coalition of other automotive associations in opposition to the National Conference of Insurance Legislators' (NCOIL) Model Act for Motor Vehicle Crash Parts and Repair. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr21.htm Legislation has been proposed in the Georgia House of Representatives that would create a sales tax on many services of small businesses. The bill, House Bill 385, if passed, would create a new sales tax on the labor costs on services performed by automotive repair facilities. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/march2011/pr20.htm Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, as well as Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., and Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., are proposing H.R. 527, the Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 that creates significant economic protections for small businesses when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal government agencies draft new regulations. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/feb2011/pr19.htm On Feb. 22, the Automotive Service Association (ASA) testified before the General Law Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly in Hartford, Conn. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/feb2011/pr18.htm Today, the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee approved two pieces of legislation, H.R. 4, the "Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act of 2011," and H.R. 705, the "Comprehensive 1099 Taxpayer Protection and Repayment of Exchange Subsidy Overpayments Act of 2011," which repeals the 1099 reporting mandate in the new health care law. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/feb2011/pr17.htm The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the federal government's consumer protection agency, has released another consumer alert to educate people on auto warranties and to ensure consumers get the most out of their warranties. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/feb2011/pr16.htm The Automotive Service Association (ASA) has written a letter to Rep. Harold Rogers, R-Ky., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee; and Rep. Norman D. Dicks, D-Wash., ranking member; urging them to reconsider the proposed career and technical education cuts within the proposed fiscal year 2011 Continuing Resolution appropriations bill, specifically those cuts to tech prep programs in the Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/feb2011/pr15.htm Rep. John L. Mica, R-Fla., chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has announced the locations for a series of national field hearings and public forums on pending major surface transportation legislation. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/feb2011/pr14.htm The House Small Business Committee has held its first hearing in the 112th session of Congress on the 1099 reporting mandate of the new health care law. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/feb2011/pr13.htm Mississippi House Bill 151, which would have repealed the Mississippi annual safety inspection of motor vehicles program, has died in committee. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/feb2011/pr12.htm The Automotive Service Association supported the creation of the Federal Insurance Office and is against repeal of the mandate granted to the FIO to make recommendations to Congress regarding insurance regulations. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr11.htm The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced it is withdrawing its interpretation of the term "feasible administrative or engineering controls" as used in the General Industry and Construction Occupational Noise Exposure standards. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr10.htm The Mississippi legislature has seen an abundance of new legislation proposed so far this year. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr9.htm U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, has introduced H.R. 164 directing the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require greater disclosure of information relating to the market value and safety of damaged motor vehicles. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr8.htm U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee, D-Texas, has introduced House Bill 229, the Michael Jon Newkirk Transportation Safety Enhancement Act of 2011, that establishes national standards for state safety inspections for motor vehicles. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr7.htm U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Judiciary Committee chairman, announced in a recent speech that patent reform, online piracy and counterfeiting, and the repeal of the antitrust exemption for health insurers would be his top priorities this coming year. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr6.htm New York state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky, D-16, has introduced New York Senate Bill 1218 relating to vehicle repair shop guarantees. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr5.htm State Rep. Steve Horne, R-81, has introduced House Bill 151, which repeals the Mississippi annual safety inspection of motor vehicles program. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr4.htm Back in January 2010, collision repair shops were required to file an Initial Notification with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and/or their state regulator and be in compliance with the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), Paint Stripping and Miscellaneous Surface Coating Operations Rule. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr3.htm The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued a consumer alert titled "Auto Warranties, Routine Maintenance and Repairs: Is Using the Dealer a Must?" http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr2.htm Montana House Bill 1530 was recently proposed in pre-filed draft form. The bill outlines rules regarding estimates for collision repairs. http://old.asashop.org/news/2011/jan2011/pr1.htm