House Bill 4526, which relates to disclosure of charges for motor vehicle repairs, died in the Texas House of Representatives Calendars Committee as time ran out on the current legislative session.

The legislation never made it to the House floor for a vote, said Lee Roberts, executive director of the Texas Independent Automotive Association.

Roberts said TIAA had opposed the bill, but nonetheless provided language to improve the bill in the interest of the association’s member automotive repair and collision shops that would have been negatively affected by passage of the bill.

TIAA testified April 6, 2009 during a hearing in the Texas House Committee for Business & Industry, and took several follow-up visits to provide legislators information about the effect the legislation would have on independently owned automotive shops.

“The legislators and staffers I met with were attentive and genuinely wanted to protect the interests of  businesses and consumers alike,” Roberts said.

House Bill 4526 was submitted by San Antonio Representative Michael Villarreal from District 21.  Villareal met with a TIAA contingent at the Capitol April 6 and asked for language suggestions from TIAA to improve the legislation in the interest of all stakeholders.

Much of the language suggestions TIAA made were included in the substitute bill, Roberts said.  However, the bill that would have gone to the House floor for a vote still had some deficiencies. 

“So the outcome ended up being the best for our members,” Roberts stressed.  “We look forward to working with legislators in the future on any bills that would provide assurances to consumers while protecting shops.”

TIAA is a non-profit organization that informs and works on behalf of Texas independent repair & collision shops on issues affecting them.  For more information about TIAA, visit www.tiaa.net.