Commerce Committee advances amended vehicle-inspection bill, removes Carvana carve‑out

The House Commerce Committee on Thursday voted to report a House committee substitute for Senate Bill 1020 after adopting an amendment that reworked the measure's inspection, registration and title provisions.

Chairman Castillo told the committee the amendment removed what had been described as a "Carvana carve‑out" to protect local dealers, added language addressing salvage-title and water‑damage issues, and codified highway‑patrol authority to stop vehicles in clearly unsafe condition. "So it's a pretty good bill. It's whole, it's full, robust and comprehensive," he said.

Committee members said the changes also incorporate language from several House bills. The amendment incorporates language from Representative Anne Kelly's House Bill 1838 (portions removed), altered online‑registration language from House Bill 260 so license offices "shall have the option to send documents electronically," and accepted revisions reflecting Representative Bob Bromley's House Bill 2189 to preserve a three‑year renewal option for registrants who choose it.

Representative Rob Kimball asked how a trooper would determine whether a vehicle met the standard for a stop. The chair replied that troopers retain discretion to stop and remove vehicles that are visibly unsafe — for example, a car missing a bumper or presenting an obvious risk to other drivers — and said the amendment codifies the authority the patrol already exercises.

After brief discussion the committee adopted the amendment, adopted the House committee substitute and voted the substitute "do pass." The chair announced a unanimous committee vote to report the House committee substitute for Senate Bill 1020 (recorded in the transcript as 9 ayes and 0 nays).

The measure will proceed according to the House rules and any further committee or floor scheduling.