House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Advances REPAIR Act
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade on Feb. 10, 2026, held a markup of legislation to advance and strengthen motor vehicle safety, including H.R. 1566, the Right to Equitable and Professional Auto Industry Repair (REPAIR) Act.
The Subcommittee advanced the bipartisan REPAIR Act, introduced by Congressman Neal Dunn (R-Fla.) by voice vote. NATSO supports the REPAIR Act, legislation that would provide independent repair shops with fair access to diagnostic, telematic, and repair data to keep trucks moving safely and efficiently along the Interstate Highway System.
The REPAIR Act is one of the bills being considered for inclusion in the surface transportation reauthorization that must be passed by September 30, 2026. NATSO is working to ensure that lawmakers include REPAIR Act provisions in the broader highway bill package.
During the Feb. 10 subcommittee markup, lawmakers offered a series of amendments that would strengthen language on cyber security, data privacy and intellectual property ownership. Rep. Erin Houchin (R-Ind.) also offered an amendment to exclude recreational vehicles from the REPAIR Act.
Congressman Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) also offered into the record a letter signed by more than 20 industry associations, including NATSO, urging the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to support H.R. 1566 and include the provisions of H.R. 1566 in transportation reauthorization.
Ultimately all amendments were withdrawn, with Democrats and Republicans agreeing to work together to address all concerns.
Of importance to NATSO members, Representative Debbie Dingell (D-Michigan) said that H.R. 1566 in its current form is overly broad, risks proprietary data and limits consumer choice. Rep. Dingell said the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the automotive sector and certain sectors of the automotive services industry has “worked for decades.”
The Auto Alliance announced a Memorandum of Understanding on July 11, 2023, with the Automotive Service Association, the Society of Collision Repair Specialists and Alliance for Automotive Innovation re-affirming a 2014 national agreement on automotive right-to-repair which states that “independent repair facilities shall have access to the same diagnostic and repair information that auto manufacturers make available to authorized dealer networks.” https://www.autosinnovate.org/posts/press-release/independent-auto-repairers-automakers-strike-major-right-to-repair-pact.
NATSO has opposed efforts to codify that MOU, which was not negotiated with industry stakeholders and excluded organizations that represent the interests of commercial motor vehicle operators, drivers and repair facilities.
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