Oregon House Subcommittee Set to Review Right-to-Repair Legislation Today

Today at 1 p.m. Pacific Time the Oregon House Subcommittee for Consumer Protection was scheduled to discuss SB 523 A, a bill that would require insurance companies to inform customers that they have the right to choose an automotive repair facility (including glass shops) before recommending a particular motor vehicle repair shop to make repairs to the insured's vehicle.

The bill was originally to be reviewed on Monday, May 21, but was carried over to today's agenda.

The bill was introduced by Democratic Sen. Floyd Prozanski of Eugene, Ore., and was passed by the Senate with a vote of 23-4 on May 18. The original bill barred insurers from suggesting a shop unless the insured requested a recommendation. The insurance lobby had that provision removed after a hearing in March.

The bill does retain some strong language, though. If the customer uses a shop recommended by the insurer, the insurer must provide printed correspondence saying that it recommended a shop. If the customer agrees to use that shop, then the insured's vehicle will receive repairs returning it to a pre-loss condition.

If the insured has his repairs done at a shop other than those recommended, the insurer cannot limit the cost of repairs necessary to return the vehicle to the pre-loss condition.

If the Consumer Protection House Subcommittee passes the bill, it will then go to the House floor and then to Gov. Ted Kulongoski, D-Ore.

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