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Lawmakers debate bill to bar subscriptions for 'already installed' car features; amendment narrows scope to offline hardware
Summary
A lengthy committee debate examined proposals to prevent automakers from gating preinstalled hardware features behind subscription fees. An amendment limiting the ban to hardware that operates without external connectivity (airplane-mode features) was adopted; committee later directed further study on broader impacts.
The Insurance Subcommittee heard extended testimony and partisan back-and-forth on proposed limits to automakers and software gatekeeping of in‑vehicle features, including remote start and heated seats. Supporters argued that when a hardware feature is installed in a vehicle and paid for as part of the purchase price, automakers should not be able to disable or require a subscription to re-enable that capability.
A sponsor described multiple consumer reports of features that once worked but were later tied to subscription fees, saying purchasers are…
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