Auto repair regulatory updates.

Texas DPS says Bexar County joins the state's emissions-testing counties on November 1, 2026. The emissions-test price in Bexar County will be $18.50; the change is separate from the statewide elimination of most non-commercial safety inspections.

Effective October 29, 2026, Rhode Island's amended motor vehicle glass repair rule, 230-RICR-30-05-3, requires license applicants to certify that their technicians meet applicable ADAS-calibration training requirements, or identify contracted ADAS-certified entities performing their calibrations. When using that alternative, glass licensees must tell consumers that they are not ADAS-calibration certified and identify the entity performing calibration where applicable. Separate rules cover licensed body shops, which need not hold a second standalone glass license simply to perform glass repairs.

Rhode Island's amendment to 230-RICR-30-05-2 became effective October 29, 2026. It added ADAS technician certification, increasing covered certification categories from seven to eight. Limited Heavy Truck and Limited Paint, Restoration, and Customization licenses remain exempt from the ADAS requirement.

Ohio House Bill 210 took effect October 6, 2026. The Motor Vehicle Repair Board must refuse to issue or renew, and must revoke, registrations for specified convictions involving unlawful used catalytic-converter purchases, catalytic-converter theft, or receiving stolen catalytic converters.

Utah HB 119 amended §31A-22-319 effective May 6, 2026; the new insurer notice requirement applies to policies issued on or after October 1, 2026. Insurers must disclose possible aftermarket crash-parts use at issuance and renewal, and written repair estimates specifying non-OEM crash parts must identify each part and include the statutory disclosure. The prior repair-facility/installer pre-installation notice clause was removed.

Rhode Island enacted Chapter 180 on June 22, 2026, with an effective date of October 1, 2026. The amendments expand specified manufacturer protocols to distributors and factory branches and revise dealership warranty and recall reimbursement obligations, claim timing, labor and parts rate calculations, recall inventory payments, and chargeback procedures.

Iowa Environmental Protection Commission ARC 0489D rescinded 567 IAC Chapter 119, Used Oil and Used Oil Filters, effective September 23, 2026. The Commission said Chapter 119 and the other chapters in the filing were duplicative of underlying Iowa Code Chapter 455D provisions and therefore unnecessary.

The Virginia General Assembly amended § 46.2-644.03 in 2026. The current section governs enforcement of vehicle-keeper and mechanic liens, including DMV owner and lienholder searches and notices, vehicle valuation, public-auction notice and certification steps.

BAR lists an approved amendment to section 3340.17.1 concerning decertification of equipment manufacturers, adopted and effective September 3, 2026.

Under Act 153 of 2026, Vermont DMV filed an emergency amendment to 14-050-022 Inspection of Motor Vehicles effective September 1, 2026. DMV reported that the emergency rule moves many inspection items not directly related to safe vehicle operation from automatic rejection to advisory status in an effort to reduce repair costs.