AGSC supported legislation that would create state auto glass replacement safety standards, similar to the law passed in Maryland in 2021, was introduced in Virginia and Massachusetts in January.
In Virginia, legislation that would direct the State Police Superintendent to adopt regulations on auto glass replacement safety “consistent with standards established by the Auto Glass Safety Council” was introduced and received a subcommittee hearing in the first two weeks of the state’s sixty-day legislation session. The bill was held over to next year by a voice vote of legislators.
AGSC testified in support of VA Delegate Mark Keam’s bill before the Virginia House Transportation Subcommittee on Highway Policy and Safety in Richmond on January 26. The bill will “ensure that windshield replacements in Virginia are performed by trained and qualified technicians in accordance with the latest stringent safety procedures. We believe that this will reduce the number of catastrophic injuries and deaths resulting from automobile crashes occurring in Virginia,” AGSC Public Affairs Director Seth Maiman told the subcommittee.
The subcommittee members were concerned about the safety issues raised by the legislation but were new to issues involving auto glass. Continuing the bill to next year allows time for the lawmakers, State Police, and stakeholders to engage in further discussions regarding auto glass replacement safety.
Legislation was also introduced in Massachusetts in January. The bill, HB 4445, would direct the state registrar of motor vehicles to establish standards for aftermarket auto glass replacement that would “meet or exceed the standards or requirements of the Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard, developed by the Auto Glass Safety Council ….” The bill defines “aftermarket safety glass replacement” as motor vehicle safety glass replacement services that occur after the original installation by a vehicle manufacturer.
The AGSC supported bill was introduced by Reps. Josh Cutler and Kathleen LaNatra and is awaiting committee assignment. The Massachusetts legislature is currently in the second year of its 2021-2022 legislative session.
The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, the state agency tasked in the 2021 law with promulgating state regulations to implement the state-mandated auto glass replacement safety standards, is scheduled to publish a final revised regulation in March. The Maryland regulation will adopt the language of the Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standard (AGRSS) into state law. A few changes are being made to the initial proposed regulation based on public comments submitted by the Auto Glass Safety Council and other stakeholders.