Transportation committee hears nominees for motor vehicle licensing board; members stress consumer protection

The Transportation and Telecommunications Committee on Feb. 2 heard confirmation testimony from multiple nominees to the state motor vehicle licensing board and questioned them about the board’s role in consumer protection and franchise disputes.

Chairman Mike Moser opened the hearing and led introductions for Senators Carolyn Boson, Wendy Debore, Beau Ballard and others before taking testimony from appointees including Mike Anderson, Dennis Butler, Blake Dillon, Clint Jones, Steven Mattis and Thomas McCaslin. Nominees described long industry experience and said they were motivated to volunteer to protect consumers and preserve fair competition among dealers.

"The overarching purpose would be to protect the consumer," nominee Mike Anderson said when asked to describe the board’s role. Anderson and other nominees told senators the board handles complaints, can levy fines and serves as a check on dealer conduct.

Director Josh Heickmeier of the Motor Vehicle Licensing program described how the agency typically resolves complaints: an investigator reviews a case, may propose a fine and offer a waiver; dealers may accept the waiver or request a formal hearing before the board. Heickmeier said franchise disputes are processed as quasi‑judicial Administrative Procedure Act hearings and that those board decisions can be appealed to district court.

Several nominees emphasized the board’s role in franchise disputes when manufacturers seek to change territory or remove a franchise. Thomas McCaslin said the board’s hearings have preserved dealerships in past disputes and give smaller dealers a process to defend themselves.

Committee members pressed nominees on several practical topics raised in testimony: how frequently the board meets, investigator staffing and training, the effect of recent statute changes on dealer continuing education, and whether rural or small operators have options under current law. McCaslin and others said the board has five investigators assigned by region and noted a statute passed last year requiring continuing education for independent dealers prior to license renewal.

Heickmeier clarified statutory compliance issues important to the committee’s rural members: an individual may sell up to eight vehicles in a 12‑month period without a dealer license provided titles are transferred and taxes paid; "title jumping"—transferring titles to evade registration or tax obligations—was described as a felony. He also said the state currently requires a brick‑and‑mortar facility (zoning, posted hours and signage) and does not maintain a separate 'hobby' or small‑permit class for infrequent sellers.

The nominees also discussed market changes and consumer protection concerns. Mike Anderson and others warned of manufacturer behavior that could reduce franchise dealer presence and cited industry disruption from direct‑to‑consumer models.

No members of the public registered opposition during the hearing for the nominees in the transcript. Chair Moser closed the hearing after testimony and committee questioning; the transcript records no formal confirmation votes or committee action on the appointments during this session.

The committee’s next procedural steps — whether individual confirmations will be recommended to the full body — were not recorded in the transcript.