Kansas Senate Bill SB495

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/26
• Refer: 2/9/26

Caption

Enacting the motor vehicle right to repair act.

Summary

SB 495 would enact the Kansas Motor Vehicle Right to Repair Act. The bill requires motor vehicle manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair facilities with access to the diagnostic tools, repair information, software, parts, and other components needed to diagnose, service, and fully repair vehicles sold in Kansas. It applies to passenger vehicles and also expressly includes commercial motor vehicles and heavier vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight rating. The bill sets different access rules by model year, with broad repair access for 2002 and newer vehicles and additional technology-based requirements for 2018 and newer vehicles, including nonproprietary interfaces and standardized access to onboard diagnostic systems. The bill also addresses telematics and connected-vehicle data. By January 1, 2028, manufacturers that install telematics systems would have to equip vehicles with a standardized, interoperable access platform so owners can authorize access to mechanical data for independent repair facilities or dealers. The bill allows manufacturers to withhold certain immobilizer and security-related information, but only if it is made available through an accepted secure data release model. It also creates a Motor Vehicle Repairs Board under the attorney general to oversee standards, monitor compliance, and investigate suspected violations, with enforcement actions referred to the attorney general and civil penalties available for denied access. The bill would significantly change Kansas law by imposing affirmative disclosure and access duties on vehicle manufacturers and by creating a new regulatory and enforcement structure. It would require manufacturers to make available, at comparable costs and terms, the same diagnostic and repair capabilities they provide to authorized dealers, and it would give vehicle owners and independent repair shops a statutory right to access repair data and tools. It also authorizes civil actions by owners or repair facilities and sets penalties of $3,000 per violation or $10,000, whichever is greater, with each day of continued denial potentially counted as a separate violation. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, the overall sentiment cannot be measured from legislative debate or roll calls. Based on the bill’s structure, it appears designed to support consumer choice, independent repair businesses, and broader access to vehicle repair information, while still preserving some manufacturer protections for security-related systems. The main likely point of contention is the balance between right-to-repair access and manufacturer concerns about cybersecurity, proprietary systems, data control, and the cost and feasibility of standardizing access across vehicle platforms.

Impact

SB 495 would create a new chapter of Kansas motor vehicle repair law requiring manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair facilities with access to diagnostic tools, repair information, software, parts, and telematics-related mechanical data. It would also establish the Motor Vehicle Repairs Board within the attorney general’s jurisdiction to set standards, monitor compliance, and refer violations for enforcement. The bill would affect manufacturers, dealers, aftermarket parts companies, independent repair shops, and vehicle owners, and it would authorize civil penalties and private enforcement for denied access.

Sentiment

No committee discussion transcripts or vote history were provided, so there is no recorded legislative sentiment to summarize from debate or roll calls. On its face, the bill reflects a pro-consumer and pro-independent-repair policy approach, consistent with the broader right-to-repair movement. At the same time, its detailed exceptions for immobilizer and security-related information suggest an effort to address manufacturer and security concerns.

Contention

The most likely points of contention are between independent repair advocates and vehicle manufacturers/dealer interests. Supporters would favor standardized access to diagnostic data, repair software, and telematics information so owners and independent shops can perform repairs on equal footing with authorized dealers. Opponents may object to mandated disclosure of proprietary systems, the creation of a new board under the attorney general, compliance costs, and potential cybersecurity risks associated with broader access to onboard and telematics data. The bill’s limited carve-out for immobilizer and security-related information indicates that vehicle security is a central issue in the debate.