Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition 
Right to Repair bill to be re-filed after strong debut during 2008 legislation session
The Massachusetts Right to Repair Coalition has re-filed legislation in the Massachusetts Legislature for the 2009 session after making a strong legislative push last year. Among key changes in the newly filed bill is the ability of consumers or repairers to file a complaint directly with the state’s Attorney General if they believe that manufacturers have violated the Right to Repair law.
Against a relentless effort by the automobile manufacturer lobby last year, the Right to Repair bill moved through key legislative committees before being reported to the full House where it was marked up for consideration on the House Calendar. The Legislature never had the opportunity to take action on the bill as the formal legislative session came to an end in late July.
- Advance of the Right to Repair bill to the full House of Representatives after moving through key legislative committees with support;
- An editorial in The Boston Herald in support of passage of the Right to Repair bill;
- A survey among independent repairers showing significant support for Right to Repair and extensive testimony of manufacturers withholding critical repair information from repairers;
- A Consumer Reports’ special report finding that a wide majority of consumers favor independent repairers over dealer repair shops based on the quality of service and the cost of repairs;
- An analysis that found that one in ten jobs in Massachusetts is tied to the aftermarket industry that accounts for $6 billion in economic activity with some 5,000 repairers and related aftermarket shops.
The newly filed legislation will reflect some changes sought by lawmakers but the new legislation is essentially the same as last year’s bill in calling for car manufacturers to provide independent repair shops equal access to diagnostic repair information and tools such as what they provide for their dealer mechanics.
What sets this year’s legislative effort apart from last year’s is the growth of the Right to Repair Coalition in Massachusetts. Independent repairers took their case directly to the Statehouse this past spring as they rallied in support of the legislation and then met with their individual legislators personally. The repairers’ grassroots effort produced more than 1,000 emails and over 600 letters to legislators directly asking for their support.
Expansion of the coalition is expected to increase the outreach as the 2009 legislative effort gets underway.
