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SB 495

Enacting the motor vehicle right to repair act.

2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas SB 495 mandates standardized, affordable access to vehicle diagnostic data and repair tools for owners and independent shops, with a new board to enforce it.

Died in Committee
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Bill Summary · SB 495

Summary of SB 495 (2025-2026) – Kansas

Main purpose and intent

SB 495 proposes the Motor Vehicle Right to Repair Act. The bill aims to ensure that vehicle owners and independent repair facilities have standardized, affordable access to diagnostic data, repair tools, software, and other components needed to diagnose and repair motor vehicles. It creates a new regulatory framework and a dedicated board to oversee secure access to mechanical data and enforcement of the act.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions and scope (Sec. 2): Establishes terms such as independent repair facility, authorized repair facility, dealer, manufacturer, telematics, immobilizer, and mechanical data. Applies to all motor vehicles sold in Kansas (with specified exceptions, e.g., certain farming equipment).

  • Access to mechanical data and on-board diagnostics (Sec. 3): Mandates standardized access to mechanical data and OBD systems for owners and independent repair facilities. Direct authorization from manufacturers is not required unless standardized across all makes/models and administered by the Motor Vehicle Repairs Board.

  • Motor Vehicle Repairs Board (Sec. 4): Creates the board under the Attorney General’s supervision with five members representing manufacturers, aftermarket parts manufacturers, distributors/retailers, independent repair facilities, and motor vehicle dealers. The chair is appointed by the AG and cannot be a manufacturer representative. The board oversees secure data access, standards, compliance policies, and investigations; it can refer violations to the AG for enforcement.

  • Tiered access requirements by model year (Sec. 5):

    • Model year 2002 vehicles: Manufacturers must provide diagnostic tools, software, and components to owners and independent facilities at cost and on terms comparable to authorized facilities; must provide access to third-party information providers and allow subscription-based access to tools and information.
    • Model year 2002–2017 vehicles: Access to OBD and repair information must be equivalent to access provided to dealers; full repair components must be available to owners and authorized independents.
    • Model year 2018 and later: Access through nonproprietary interfaces (SAE J2534/J1939, ISO 22900), integrated on-board repair information systems, and direct access via nonproprietary interfaces (e.g., USB/ethernet). Manufacturers must provide the same information to independents and owners as to dealers. Full repair components remain accessible.

  • Security and immobilizer/anti-theft data (Sec. 7): Manufacturers may exclude immobilizer/security-related data from general disclosures but must provide it through secure, alternative data-release models.

  • Enforcement and penalties (Sec. 8): Civil action available to owners/independents denied access. Penalties of $3,000 per violation or $10,000 total (whichever is greater); daily continuations count as separate violations.

  • Effective date (Sec. 9): Act takes effect January 1, 2027.

Who is affected

  • Motor vehicle manufacturers and authorized dealers
  • Aftermarket parts manufacturers and distributors
  • Independent repair facilities and motor vehicle owners
  • State Attorney General and the newly created Motor Vehicle Repairs Board
  • Potential impact on the Kansas Judicial System (due to new civil actions)

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Establishment of the Motor Vehicle Repairs Board under the AG
  • Phased implementation aligned with model-year timelines (2002, 2002–2017, 2018+)
  • Interoperable telematics access platform requirement by January 1, 2028
  • Civil enforcement mechanism with specified penalties
  • Fiscal note indicates starting costs in FY 2027 and ongoing expenditure for board operations and legal counsel

Note: The bill’s status shows it died in committee in April 2026, with prior referral and introduction in 2026.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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