House approves bill to let auto manufacturers disable remote vehicle access for domestic‑abuse protective orders

The House on Monday passed a bill from Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Johnson that lets vehicle owners subject to domestic‑violence protective orders ask automakers to suspend remote access features tied to a phone app or manufacturer portal.

The bill was described by Johnson as a measure to protect survivors. "This legislation simply protects victims of domestic abuse from abusers who use the remote access and the vehicle technology on their automobile bills to stall, harass, or control them remotely," Johnson said on the House floor.

Under the bill an owner or protected person may submit a certified copy of a valid protective order and a remote‑access suspension request. The manufacturer would be required to suspend remote access for the account identified in the request; sponsors said the measure includes a portal and a standardized form to ease compliance. The bill also creates a survivor empowerment fund paid by penalties when manufacturers violate the law.

Lawmakers debated implementation details during floor questions, including whether the…