On the Dash:
- NIADA is urging Congress to advance the REPAIR Act as part of the 2026 surface transportation reauthorization.
- Dealers are seeking bipartisan action on catalytic converter theft while supporting reforms to CFPB authority and FCRA liability.
- NIADA is using direct dealer-to-lawmaker meetings to highlight how federal policy affects independent dealerships and their customers.
The National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA) opened its 12th annual National Policy Conference Monday in Washington, D.C., pairing advocacy training with direct meetings with members of Congress. During the conference, dealers received regulatory updates from officials at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), then moved into training sessions to prepare for their Capitol Hill meetings Tuesday.
On right to repair, NIADA is urging Congress to include the REPAIR Act (H.R. 1566/S. 1379) in the safety title of the 2026 surface transportation reauthorization. The association argues the legislation would prevent manufacturers from using technological or legal barriers to restrict access to vehicle diagnostic data, repair information and tools. The REPAIR Act aims to preserve vehicle owners’ ability to choose where their vehicles get maintained and repaired.
To combat catalytic converter theft, NIADA is also asking lawmakers to cosponsor the bipartisan PART Act (H.R. 5221/S. 2238). The bill would mandate traceable identifiers on new catalytic converters, fund voluntary Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) marking for converters already in use and establish federal penalties for trafficking in stolen converters.
NIADA supports changes to CFPB authority
On Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reform, dealers are asking lawmakers to support full House consideration of H.R. 10184, the Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act of 2026. The bill would require congressional appropriations for the CFPB’s budget and establish clearer standards for the bureau’s enforcement authority. The House Financial Services Committee favorably reported the bill before the midterm election recess.
Additionally, NIADA is calling on the full House to take up H.R. 5775, the FCRA Liability Harmonization Act, which cleared the House Financial Services Committee in June, and the association claims the legislation would create more consistent and proportionate civil liability standards under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Patrick O’Brien, NIADA’s Director of Government Relations and Compliance, stated that the four bills could significantly shape the regulatory environment for independent dealers in the coming years. He emphasized that dealers can directly explain to lawmakers how the legislation impacts their businesses and communities. Meanwhile, CEO Jeff Martin underlined the importance of face-to-face advocacy in conveying policy implications to members of Congress.
