BAR staff outline legislation and six regulation packages under review

The Bureau of Automotive Repair on Tuesday briefed its advisory group on state legislation and six regulation packages the bureau is tracking and preparing, saying some items could reach rulemaking this summer.

BAR Chief Patrick Dorey and Executive Office staff Holly Helsing and Kayla Shelton led the update, laying out key bill numbers and rulemaking timelines and asking the advisory group for feedback before packages enter a formal 45‑day public comment period. The bureau highlighted AB 1263 (sunset law that granted BAR authorities), AB 987, SB 712, SB 1368 and SB 861 among measures it is following and said staff will usually take a formal position on bills later in the process, typically when they reach the governor’s desk.

Why it matters: the bureau’s regulatory work implements statutory direction and affects shop compliance and inspections. Several of the regulation packages would change inspection or documentation obligations for repair shops and could alter how consumers and insurers handle post‑collision and towing/storage situations.

Most immediately, BAR staff outlined six regulation packages it is advancing or preparing to file: (1) an omnibus cleanup and terminology updates already adopted and effective April 1; (2) a tear‑down disclosure package to standardize estimates and documentation (including third‑party payer itemization) that has finished modified‑text review and is pending Office of Administrative Law (OAL) review; (3) smog‑check readiness monitor limits intended to tighten OBD readiness criteria for model‑year 1996 and newer gasoline vehicles and 1998 and newer diesel vehicles; (4) a storage‑fees package to consolidate rules governing towing and storage fees, require itemized invoices and create a website search tool showing average and median local daily storage rates; (5) a mobile and referral ARD package clarifying the definition and geographic radius for mobile repairs and defining when referral/payment arrangements create an ARD; and (6) a technical cleanup to cross‑reference the Business and Professions Code after the bureau adopted vehicle safety systems inspection rules.

On timing, staff said some packages (tear‑down disclosure, technical cleanup) are already with OAL and could be effective later in the year depending on OAL review; they estimated the public comment period for the storage/towing package could begin in late June. Staff emphasized they sometimes provide technical assistance to bill authors or committees earlier in the process but generally do not take a formal position until later.

Advisory group members asked about how public comments are handled (responses are compiled in the final statement of reasons for OAL review) and urged BAR to produce plain‑language guidance for shops implementing tear‑down and storage documentation. BAR staff said outreach materials and clearer templates are under consideration.

The bureau solicited additional stakeholder feedback for the listed packages before filing with OAL and reminded attendees the rulemaking record (comments and responses) will be part of the public file when finalized.

Less critical details: staff reminded members that legislative deadlines fall in June and September and that bills must be signed or vetoed by Oct. 12. BAR staff also noted the adopted omnibus and technical cleanup regulations became effective April 1.