Bill
S 291
Massachusetts would withhold vehicle registrations or renewal until open safety recalls are repaired, notifying owners of each recall and requiring proof of remedy.
Note on source materials
- The bill metadata supplied (title: dedicates a portion of the state highway system to “Trooper Edward L. Cunningham”) conflicts with the bill text included below, which is a Massachusetts bill amending motor vehicle registration law to address open safety recalls. This summary addresses the substantive text provided (An Act relative to vehicle recalls / insertion of Section 7A 1/2 into Chapter 90), not the highway‑dedication title.
Summary — An Act relative to vehicle recalls (S.291, introduced 2025)
Purpose and intent
- Require the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to identify motor vehicles with open safety recalls (per NHTSA records) at the time of registration or renewal, notify owners, and withhold registration renewal until required recall repairs are completed (subject to defined exemptions). The aim is to increase completion of manufacturer safety recalls and improve motor vehicle safety.
Key provisions
- New statutory section: Chapter 90, Section 7A 1/2 (inserted after Section 7A).
- Definitions:
- “Open recall”: a safety‑related recall for which the manufacturer has notified under 49 U.S.C. §30119 and that requires dealer repairs or modifications. Excludes labeling/owner‑manual notifications and recalls where the remedy is repurchase or financial compensation.
- “Registration”: registration, renewal, or transfer of a motor vehicle.
- RMV duties:
- Before issuing a registration or mailing renewal notices, RMV must check NHTSA data to determine whether the vehicle has any open recalls.
- If open recalls exist, RMV must provide written notice of all open recalls at initial registration (or include notice with the renewal notice).
- Notice must describe each open recall, state that authorized dealers will perform repairs at no cost (except as provided in 49 U.S.C. §30120), and state that, except for listed exemptions, RMV will not issue a registration certificate until the open recalls are repaired.
- Owner obligations and enforcement:
- After receiving notice, the vehicle owner must have the necessary recall repairs completed before the vehicle’s next registration renewal and must submit proof of repairs in a manner determined by the Registrar.
- The Registrar may deny registration renewal if the owner fails to provide proof of remedy within the time allowed.
- Exemptions (Registrar may not deny registration if any applies):
- Manufacturer has not made a remedy available.
- Required replacement parts are not readily available to the manufacturer’s state dealer network.
- Repairs not covered by the recall are required to enable application of the remedy.
- Aftermarket modifications prevent application of the remedy.
- Circumstances beyond the owner’s control or undue hardship prevented the remedy.
- Liability: The section does not alter common‑law liability of manufacturers or franchise dealers.
Who is affected
- Vehicle owners registered in Massachusetts (including those renewing registrations).
- Massachusetts RMV/Registrar (operational and IT processes).
- Motor vehicle manufacturers and authorized dealers (recall remedy delivery and documentation).
- Consumers, used‑vehicle purchasers, and enforcement officers.
Procedural and timeline notes
- Bill introduced in January 2025. Committee activity and procedural history in the record show hearings, committee referrals (Energy & Natural Resources; Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure; Transportation), printings as 291A/291B, advancement to third reading, and Senate passage (dates listed in the source). If enacted, RMV would need to integrate NHTSA data checks into registration workflows and establish procedures for notice, proof submission, and exemptions.
Potential impacts
- Public safety: likely to increase completion rates for safety recalls, reducing risk from known vehicle defects.
- Administrative: RMV will need new IT and procedural capacity to query NHTSA records, notify owners, track remediation, and adjudicate exemptions.
- Owner burden: owners with open recalls must obtain dealer repairs before renewal, potentially creating inconvenience; exemptions mitigate unfair outcomes.
- Manufacturers/dealers: may see increased demand to supply remedies and document repairs; parts availability could become a practical constraint for enforcement.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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