Bill: SB 1500, 85(R) - 2017
Committee
Senate Business & Commerce
2nd Chamber Committee
House Business & Industry
Vote Recommendation
Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
Vote Yes; Amend |
Positive |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Positive |
Neutral |
Author(s)
Judith Zaffirini
Bill Caption
Relating to certain vehicle protection products.
Fiscal Notes
From the Legislative Budget Board: no significant fiscal implication to the state is anticipated.
Bill Analysis
SB 1500 would make it a deceptive act for a warrantor of a vehicle protection product warranty to use a name that includes “casualty,” “surety,” “insurance,” “mutual,” or any other word descriptive of insurance. Also, a retailer would be prohibited from requiring as a condition of a retail installment transaction or the cash sale of a motor vehicle, including commercial, that the buyer purchase a vehicle protection product that is not installed on the vehicle at the time of the transaction. Finally, the Vehicle Protection Product Warrantor Advisory Board and warrantor registration requirements and regulations would be abolished.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This bill enhances our free market and limited government principles by abolishing registration and regulations on warrantors making it easier to earn a living. We do note, however, that the provision prohibiting a retailer from requiring a buyer to purchase a vehicle protection product not already installed on the vehicle is not a stipulation the government should make concerning a private transaction between a willing buyer and seller.
On the whole, this bill in our view is a reduction in government regulations and therefore we support SB 1500 but recommend amending it to strike lines 49-61 on page four of hte bill.