ARKANSAS DEALERS HEAD TO D.C. 2. SUPPORT BIPARTISAN CATALYTIC CONVERTER ANTI‑THEFT LEGISLATION Law enforcement has recommended federal legislation to provide them with the tools to combat catalytic converter theft, which has increased sharply since 2020. A federal framework is needed to aid the efforts of local law enforcement. Last Congress, NADA and 120 other organizations supported the bipartisan PART Act, which would require new vehicles to have traceable numbers on their catalytic converters. The bill also establishes a federal penalty for stealing, selling, trafficking or knowingly buying stolen catalytic converters. 3. OPPOSE SO-CALLED “RIGHT TO REPAIR” LEGISLATION NADA opposes so-called “right to repair” legislation, which has little to do with repairing a vehicle and raises serious vehicle privacy, security and safety issues for consumers. Bill advocates claim that independent auto repair shops do not have access to the parts or data necessary to repair vehicles, yet independent repair shops already perform more than 70% of all non-warranty repairs. This concern was rectified by a 2014 Memorandum of Understanding, and a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report confirmed that the information and tools necessary to repair vehicles are already readily available to independent repair shops. AADA would like to thank the members of the Arkansas congressional delegation for all they do for dealers. AADA joined automobile dealers from across the country for the annual NADA Legislative Fly-in, Sept. 9-10, 2025. NADA Director Ted Smith, from Smith Ford in Conway, and NADA Next Gen Representative Halley Ryburn, from Ryburn Motor Company in Monticello, walked the halls of Capitol Hill with AADA President Greg Kirkpatrick to discuss several key issues before Congress. Among the key legislative priorities were the following: 1. OVERTURN THE EPA’S EV MANDATE Dealers have promoted the electrification of America’s vehicle fleet with billions of dollars of their own capital already committed to investments in facilities, training and inventory. However, EPA’s rule, which would effectively mandate that the light-duty fleet be 56% EV by 2032, goes too far, too fast. Members of Congress were urged to support repealing the EPA’s EV mandate by cosponsoring “The Transportation Freedom Act,” which establishes a single, national fuel economy standard that is achievable, affordable and maintains consumer vehicle choice. Update: In early December, President Trump announced a proposal that resets the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fuel economy requirements, reversing the Biden-era targets that aimed to push the nationwide fleet toward the equivalent of roughly 50 miles per gallon. Under the new plan, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards return to a more realistic baseline of 34.5 mpg — a level last seen in the late 2000s — and future increases are scaled back to levels Congress originally intended. 20 Arkansas Auto Dealer
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