The 2016 legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly is two thirds of the way complete.  This is the point during the 90 day session that lobby groups and legislators make the final push to get legislation out of one chamber before the cross over deadline strikes.  MADA just completed one of their busiest weeks with bill hearings on important industry related measures.  MADA's number one priority is the creation of new law that allows dealers to disclose all safety related information that a manufacturer furnishes to a dealer.  This legislation also contains an important provision ensuring that any manufacturer issuing a stop sale on vehicles will fairly compensate dealers for inventory held on their lots subject to the stop sale.  The bill was heard in both the House of Delegates and Senate over the last two weeks, and legislators have indicated their desire to pass the disclosure legislation.  MADA also introduced a bill to ensure the trade-in credit applies to all trade-in transactions regardless if the trade-in is a lease or not.  The hearing was held this past week, and there was no opposition.  MADA expects this bill to become law this year, thus eliminating all confusion on whether the trade-in credit applies or not.  Finally, MADA supported a bill introduced by the body shop association which requires insurance companies to mandate genuine crash parts that meet OEM standards are used as replacements within the first two years of the vehicles origin.  This bill met considerable resistance from the insurance lobby.  

 

Please contact the Association at any time to discuss legal/legislative issues that you would like to see MADA pursue.