Committee adopts sweeping towing-reform amendments, sends HB1492 to the floor

The House Transportation Committee on Thursday approved a package of amendments to HB1492, a bill revising how motor vehicle towing from public highways is billed, appealed and enforced, and voted the bill out to the regular calendar as amended.

Committee members said the core changes required towing invoices to clearly state the appeals process and give vehicle owners 30 days from receipt of an invoice to file for review, rather than tying the clock to vehicle release. Representative Sykes, who moved amendment 0407h, said the change creates a clearer, fairer path to appeal and extends the notice period to 30 days.

Supporters also adopted an amendment that requires transparency around towing fees and the bidding process for contracted towing (amendment 0548h). Representative Miller, who sponsored several amendments, warned that publishing price schedules in a captive market risks collusion or price increases, but Representative Giesen said public visibility is necessary for oversight: "the invoice shall clearly state the appeals process," she said, urging the committee to model other laws on the change.

Another amendment (0634h) aligned appeal protections across statutory sections where impound and towing fees are assessed. Representative Miller explained the amendment ensures an appeal can proceed even if the vehicle remains in storage, and if the appeal succeeds the law enforcement agency or custodian must reimburse costs as specified.

A high-profile amendment (0553h) removed the Department of Motor Vehiclesauthority to suspend a driver's license solely for unpaid towing and storage fees. Proponents argued license suspension for a private debt imposes undue hardship and can prevent people from earning the money needed to resolve disputes; opponents warned that removing the sanction could make collection harder for tow companies and law enforcement.

On the floor roll call, members voted to report HB1492 out of committee as amended by a 10to6 margin. Chairman Walsh asked the Office of Legislative Services to marry the adopted amendments into a single committee amendment before the bill reaches the full House.

The committee discussion mixed consumer-protection framing and concerns about enforcement logistics. Representative St. Clair noted tow companies face red tape when trying to use abandoned-vehicle statutes to recoup costs, while Representative Miller pointed to statutory disposal and auction timelines that already give tow companies recovery options after a defined period. The committee left room for further process fixes on the House floor.

The committee's next procedural step is to consolidate the committee amendments into a single amendment for the House calendar; members signaled readiness to revisit targeted changes as a floor amendment if needed.