Gov. Janet Mills has vetoed legislation that would have altered independent auto repair shops’ ability to access computer diagnostics — information regarded as essential for repairing today’s tech-heavy vehicles.
The original Right to Repair law — LD 1288 — was approved by statewide referendum in 2023 and became effective in January 2025 for all vehicles sold in the state, both new and used.
The recently proposed legislation included a provision that would have allowed manufacturers to control how data would be accessible to independent repair shops.
In a letter explaining her veto, Mills said the provision had not been included in a working group’s recommendations but instead was added at the urging of automobile manufacturers.
Mills said she had heard from hundreds of independent repair shop owners urging her to veto the bill.
“As enacted, LD 1228 is a finger on the scale in favor of auto manufacturers, and against local businesses and the will of Maine voters, and I cannot support it,” Mills said. “The legislature has an opportunity to enact the working group’s unanimous recommendations without this controversial provision through a pending bill, LD 292, which I encourage it to do without delay.”
LD 1288 was the only bill Mills vetoed from the previous legislative session. She allowed 52 of the 61 bills sent to her to become law, and the legislature is recalling seven bills for consideration in the current session.