August 25, 2010

Citing significant progress, State Representative Allen McCarthy is promising to continue the fight to make Massachusetts the first state in the country to pass so-called “Right to Repair” legislation.

The bill would require car manufactures to make important safety and repair information available to all repair shops, not just those affiliated with dealerships.  With this information, independent repair shops could offer a wider variety of services to their customers.  The legislation is supported by AAA of Southern New England.  Supporters were optimistic after the bill was passed by the state Senate in early July.  An aggressive advocacy campaign followed, featuring radio ads and phone calls from constituents to legislators.  Despite these efforts, the bill failed to pass the House before the July 31 deadline.

“I would like to personally thank Representative McCarthy for his hard work on the Right to Repair legislation throughout the session,” said Representative Garrett Bradley (Hingham).  “Representative McCarthy’s support and leadership on this issue and many issues before the Commonwealth have truly made a difference.”

“While I’m disappointed by the setback, I’m also heartened by the significant progress made on Right to Repair this session,” said McCarthy, a supporter of the bill since his first term.  “There are many independent repair shops in this district, and I’m very glad that so many people took the time to make their voices heard over the last few weeks.  I’m very optimistic about our chances for success next session.”

The legislation will likely be re-filed in January, when the next legislature is seated.  That will mark the beginning of another 18-month cycle, during which Right to Repair advocates aim to renew their efforts to pass the bill.