Posts by bsharp@reddingfirm.com
U.S. EPA Urges OEMs to Give Diesel Engines More Time to get Fixed Before Curtailing Performance
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued new guidance to on-road and off-road vehicle diesel-powered vehicle manufacturers that will give drivers more time to get their engines fixed. Since 2010, the EPA has required the use of diesel exhaust fluid for diesel vehicles to combat smog.…
Read MorePennsylvania Bill would Give Consumers More Time to Repair Unsafe Vehicles
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The Pennsylvania House’s Transportation Committee voted 26-0 to advance HB 649, which would give drivers more time to complete required repairs and inspections on vehicles deemed to be operating in an unsafe condition. Under current law, a police officer or other qualified employee of the state can determine…
Read MoreNew Law in Rhode Island Requires Insurers to Cover More Auto Repairs
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 In Rhode Island, insurers can no longer force drivers to accept total loss settlements for vehicles for which the repair costs don’t exceed 80 percent of the vehicle’s pre-collision value (actual cash value/ACV). In other words, the consumer can demand the insurer pay for the repair if the…
Read MoreFederal Bill would Open Opportunities for Auto Repairers to Help Tackle Catalytic Converter Theft
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 United States Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH) introduced legislation that would make it possible for automotive repairers to receive compensation from the federal government for helping them confront catalytic converter theft. S. 2238, also known as the “PART (Preventing Auto Recycling Theft) Act,” aims to…
Read MoreASA Repair Policy Scan Tool Newsletter: August 21, 2025
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 Click here to read the latest edition of ASA’s Repair Policy Scan Tool newsletter. Categories Auto Repair Automotive Parts Clean Air Watch EPA Featured Information Availability Insurance Issues New Vehicle Technologies Replacement Crash Parts Service Information Small Business Uncategorized Vehicle Inspections Vehicle Safety Archives Archives Select Month February…
Read MoreSecretary of Transportation Sean Duffy Testifies before U.S. House Committee
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy testified before the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee in mid July as part of the committee’s departmental oversight responsibilities. During the hearing, Secretary Duffy discussed a wide range of topics, including electric vehicles (EV), autonomous vehicles (AV), and other areas of…
Read MoreLegislation Aimed at Supporting Rural Small Businesses Takes Step Towards Becoming Law
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 Before returning home for Congress’ August recess, the U.S. Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee advanced legislation aimed at supporting small businesses in rural areas. S. 1703, also known as the Rural Small Business Resilience Act, would require the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Disaster Recovery and…
Read MoreFederal Agencies Lack Defined Performance Goals for EV Charging Infrastructure Investments
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The Government Accountability Office (GAO) – an independent federal agency that provides auditing, evaluative, and investigative services to the U.S. Congress – released a report in which they determined that the federal government lacks clear goals to which the success of its investments in electric vehicle (EV) charging…
Read MoreFederal Agency Announces Upcoming Changes to its AV Exemption Approval Process
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced changes to its exemption approval process for autonomous vehicles (AV), which it intends to implement in the near future. Under current law, NHTSA must provide exemptions for vehicles that don’t comply with certain safety requirements, such as having windshield…
Read MoreU.S. Senate Finance Committee Reveals Major Tax Bill that Differs Significantly from Version Passed in U.S. House
ASA Driven By Policy Newsletter: February 2026 The U.S. Senate Finance Committee released its highly-anticipated tax legislative package that differs significantly from the version passed in the U.S. House. Below is a comparison of the key provisions relevant to independent auto repairers: House Senate Section 199A Deduction Makes it permanent and increases it from 20%…
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