Committee advances overhaul of motor-vehicle rules to include powersports dealers

Representative Dobrinski, sponsor of House Bill 2160, told the committee the measure is a request from the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Commission to update and modernize statutes in Title 47 to address powersports dealers and consumer protections. "Power sports dealers in the same title are a different distinction," Dobrinski said, adding that the nature of the business has changed and that purchasing a powersports vehicle is now "very similar to buying a licensed automobile." He said the bill addresses multiple sections of Title 47 and includes provisions tied to the right of first refusal in sales and franchise arrangements.

Members pressed the sponsor for details. Representative Banning asked whether an example sale to a relative would trigger the manufacturer's right to match the deal; the sponsor answered that sales and service agreements with manufacturers often contain such provisions and the bill aims to give dealers statutory protections. Representative Gann asked whether the bill creates new fees; Dobrinski said it applies existing fee schedules to powersports dealers and does not, to his knowledge, add new fees. Representative Wilk asked whether consumers would see a price increase; the sponsor said he did not have an answer but that increased fees were not the bill's intent.

The motion to advance the bill passed in committee with a recorded tally of 13 ayes and 2 nays. The transcript does not list the names of the motion mover or seconder. The sponsor noted stakeholder engagement and said manufacturers (OEMs) have not expressed organized opposition in the sponsor's interactions.

The bill would affect powersports dealers, motor vehicle franchise arrangements with manufacturers, and statutory language throughout Title 47. The transcript captures sponsor explanations and committee questions but does not include full bill text or revenue estimates about fee impacts.