On the Dash:
- The bill would codify longstanding agreements that require automakers to provide independent repair shops access to diagnostic and repair information.
- Federal enforcement could increase automakers’ compliance obligations while preserving current information-sharing practices with independent repair facilities.
- Lawmakers removed broader telematics and wireless data-access provisions, leaving debate over vehicle data access unresolved.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee has approved an amended version of the REPAIR Act as part of the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026 (H.R. 7389), which establishes federal law based on existing right-to-repair agreements between automakers and independent repair organizations.
What the bill codifies
The bill has a more limited scope than originally proposed. Specifically, Section 202 of H.R. 7389 implements important provisions from the 2014 national memorandum of understanding (MOU) that applies to light-duty vehicles weighing less than 14,000 pounds. Additionally, it makes certain parts of a separate 2015 MOU regarding heavy-duty vehicles enforceable under federal law. Both agreements regulate how automakers share repair and diagnostic information with independent repair facilities.
The 2014 MOU established a right-to-repair framework for Massachusetts’ automotive industry. Under this agreement, participating automakers are required to provide independent repair shops with the same diagnostic and repair information that franchised dealerships receive, utilizing standardized, non-proprietary methods to access vehicle repair and diagnostic data.
Section 203 of the legislation makes both agreements legally binding and empowers the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to impose civil penalties for violations. Supporters say the change will expand consumer choice and protect access to vehicle repair information.
Telematics provisions removed
Committee members stripped broader provisions on telematics and direct wireless access to vehicle data from the bill. The revised language focuses on codifying existing MOUs rather than expanding access to connected-vehicle data, thereby narrowing the scope of the original proposal.
Rep. Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), the bill’s lead sponsor, said the committee-approved version does not fully capture the intent of the original REPAIR Act. Dunn said he plans to pursue additional changes when House leadership brings the measure to the floor, arguing the amended bill lacks sufficient protections for consumers, independent repair shops, and aftermarket manufacturers.
The bill’s advancement marks another step in the ongoing national debate over vehicle repair access and ownership of data vehicles generate. Further action in the House may determine whether broader telematics and connected-vehicle provisions return to the legislation.
