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Committee approves AB 646 to expand consumer disclosures on vehicle protection products and catalytic-converter etching
Summary
AB 646, authored by Assemblymember Wallace, advanced to Appropriations after supporters said it improves consumer disclosures and expands theft-deterrent options for catalytic converters; dealer associations and industry groups testified in support and there was no opposition in committee.
The Assembly Insurance Committee voted to send AB 646, authored by Assemblymember Wallace, to the Appropriations Committee after backers said the bill improves consumer disclosure and encourages theft-deterrent measures for catalytic converters.
Wallace and witnesses from the Motor Vehicle Protection Products Association and the California New Car Dealers Association described amendments that add clear disclosure language for consumers at point of sale and preserve consumer choice about theft-deterrent options. Kelly Jensen of the Motor Vehicle Protection Products Association told the committee the disclosure language was crafted with committee staff; Kenton Stanhope of the California New Car Dealers Association said the amendments strengthened the bill.
Supporters included the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and Carmax. There was no lead opposition in the hearing. Committee members accepted the amendments and moved the bill to Appropriations; the committee clerk recorded aye votes on the motion.
If enacted, AB 646 would increase the number of etchings and other theft-deterrent disclosures for catalytic converters while maintaining dealer and consumer options at point of sale, building on prior state efforts to curb catalytic converter theft. The measure will next go to the Appropriations Committee for fiscal review.
