H.944 adds vehicle-history reporting study directed to DMV and AG, includes auto-industry group

H.944 (draft 4.1) directs the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles and the Attorney General, working with industry stakeholders, to examine the use and reliability of vehicle history reports and to deliver a report to the transportation committees by Dec. 15.

The report must address how vehicle-history information is gathered and disseminated; the accuracy of that information; the frequency and causes of odometer-accuracy complaints; and legislative or regulatory options to reduce inaccurate or incomplete vehicle-history reports. The draft adds the Alliance for Automotive Innovation to the stakeholder list to provide industry perspective on report production and accuracy concerns.

A committee member noted that if both the DMV and the Attorney General are named without a clear lead, responsibility could be unclear and delay the work; the member recommended designating the DMV as lead and having the Attorney General provide consultation. The committee signaled that approach as preferable to avoid administrative finger-pointing.

The committee flagged the item as part of the final sections and planned to incorporate any final edits when staff circulates the clean draft to editors.