The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Requires Motor Vehicle Administration Licensing for Advanced Driver Assistance System Recalibrations and Mandates Insurance Coverage for Repairs
Last action · April 8, 2026: Referred Rules and Executive NominationsSponsor: J.B. Jennings
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Would Do
Maryland Senate Bill 789 requires individuals and automotive repair facilities to be licensed by the Motor Vehicle Administration to perform (ADAS) s starting June 1, 2026. The measure prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage for manufacturer-recommended repairs, mandates specific line items in insurance estimates, and establishes civil penalties and deceptive trade practice violations for non-compliance beginning November 1, 2027.
Vehicle owners face new written disclosure requirements before and after repairs, while automotive repair shops, glass facilities, and insurers must adhere to strict manufacturer specifications for electronic safety system s or face fines up to $5,000 and potential license revocation.
- The Motor Vehicle Administration is the state agency in Maryland responsible for driver licensing, vehicle registration, and the oversight of automotive safety and dealer regulations. context
- Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have become standard features in modern automobiles, utilizing cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors to automate safety functions and warn drivers of potential hazards. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Automotive repair facilities
Shops must obtain MVA licenses, maintain OEM-compliant tools and controlled environments, conduct post-repair scans, and provide written customer disclosures.
Motor vehicle safety glass facilities
Glass shops must be licensed by the MVA to perform ADAS recalibrations and face license revocation for repeated violations.
Insurance companies
Insurers must include specific line items for scans and recalibrations in estimates and cannot deny coverage for manufacturer-recommended repairs.
Motor vehicle owners
Vehicle owners receive detailed written disclosures regarding safety systems, recalibration estimates, and verification of proper system functioning after repairs.
Key Facts
- The Motor Vehicle Administration must study ADAS repair and training requirements and report its findings to legislative committees by January 1, 2027.
- Performing an advanced driver assistance system recalibration requires a license issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration.
- Automotive repair facilities performing recalibrations must maintain a controlled environment, possess OEM-compliant tools, and keep records of all diagnostic scans.
- Before beginning repairs on a vehicle requiring ADAS recalibration, repair facilities must provide customers with a written statement detailing impacted components, estimated prices, and safety implications.
Show all 9 facts
- Insurance companies are prohibited from denying coverage for repairs recommended by manufacturer position statements or considering a repair complete before necessary recalibrations are performed.
- Insurance estimates for collision repairs must include specific line items for diagnostic scans, recalibrations, and the cost of required tools and facility equipment.
- Violations of the automotive repair facility provisions occurring on or after November 1, 2027, constitute unfair or deceptive trade practices under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.
- First-time violations by repair facilities carry civil penalties up to $1,000, second violations within three years carry penalties up to $2,500, and third violations carry penalties up to $5,000 along with potential license suspension or revocation.
- Motor vehicle safety glass facilities must be licensed by the MVA to perform ADAS recalibrations and are subject to license revocation after three violations within a 3-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an advanced driver assistance system (ADAS)?
What are the insurance requirements under this legislation?
When do the penalty provisions for unauthorized recalibrations take effect?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.
Procedural history
7 actions- Apr 8, 2026HouseCommitteeReferred Rules and Executive Nominations
- Apr 7, 2026SenateFloorThird Reading Passed (46-0)
- Apr 6, 2026SenateFloorSecond Reading Passed with Amendments
- Apr 6, 2026SenateFavorable with Amendments { 873424/1 Adopted
- Apr 6, 2026SenateCommitteeFavorable with Amendments Report by Judicial Proceedings
- Feb 12, 2026SenateHearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
Show 1 earlier action
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Judicial Proceedings
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory OEM Procedure Compliance
The bill transitions ADAS repair guidelines from optional manufacturer recommendations into legally binding standards enforced through the Consumer Protection Act and MVA licensing.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy35Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools