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House passes changes to auto‑dealer franchise rules after heated debate
Summary
The Utah House passed the second substitute to House Bill 290, revising franchise protections for new car dealerships — narrowing certain territorial protections, changing advisory‑board membership and giving affected cities new standing before the advisory board following extended debate over competition and vested investments.
The Utah House of Representatives passed a second substitute to House Bill 290 on a voice and recorded vote after more than an hour of debate, approving changes supporters said balance franchise protections for existing dealers with local economic development needs.
Representative Mackell, the bill sponsor, told the chamber the measure narrows the advisory board’s geographic protections and increases transparency and municipal input. "What we're doing in this bill is we're opening the market up in the realm of new car dealerships," Mackell said, summarizing three key changes: composing the advisory board to include three manufacturers and a League of Cities and Towns representative, giving affected cities legal standing to appear before the board, and adjusting mileage/market‑area standards to a new 6–10 mile framework in places along the Wasatch Front.
Supporters said the bill is…
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