Did you know that current Maine law states that an “independent entity,” with no government oversight, is required to store and give access to all of your vehicle-generated data? It’s true.

In 2023, Maine voters, misled by predatory advertising from businesses outside our state, voted in the Automotive Right to Repair law. What they didn’t realize is that what they were voting for was the creation of an independent entity that would store all of their telematics data. Gov. Janet Mills had the opportunity to help fix this part of law by signing into law LD 1228 and chose not to.

After more than two years of bipartisan work, the Maine Legislature passed LD 1228, a bill designed to protect consumer privacy and clarify how vehicle-generated data is stored and accessed. It is a thoughtful, forward-looking response to a growing technological and legal issue affecting vehicle owners across our state.

But, instead of signing the bill into law, the governor allowed it to move into a sort of legislative limbo until the Legislature reconvenes in January 2026 for the second regular session. During this time, Maine vehicle owners are left unprotected, and an ongoing lawsuit remains unresolved, an outcome that could have been avoided with a simple signature.

Telematics data is embedded into vehicles. It includes maintenance diagnostics like engine performance, tire pressure and brake system alerts; personally identifying information, like the routes and speeds your vehicle travels, the contacts on your cellphone (if you’ve connected it to your car) and other driver behavior data; and convenience features like remote start, remote lock/unlock and GPS data on where the nearest gas or charging station is.

This bill struck a careful balance, ensuring that only nonpersonal, repair-related data could be accessed by repairers and only with the vehicle owner’s consent.

This bill also created safeguards to ensure that data is kept secure, while maintaining consumer choice about where their vehicles are serviced and repaired. Independent repairers play a vital role in Maine’s economy, especially in rural areas where dealership access is limited. LD 1228 simply ensures that these trusted professionals can continue providing safe, reliable and affordable repairs in an era when digital data is just as essential as a wrench or socket.

This bill also removed the “independent entity” with no government or citizen oversight and created a similar commission that does not hold the vehicle’s data, but ensures manufacturers comply with Maine’s law to make your data accessible to your chosen repairer. The commission would fall within the oversight of the Attorney General’s Office.

Additionally, if the governor had signed the bill into law, LD 1228 would have helped an ongoing legal battle surrounding access and storage of vehicle telematics. Instead, the issue remains tied up in the courts, costing time, taxpayer money and creating prolonged uncertainty for repairers and drivers alike. Unfortunately, by not signing the bill, the governor has delayed the protections LD 1228 created and the state remains in a costly legal fight.

LD 1228 had broad support in both the House and the Senate, passing 135-12 in the House and 21-14 in the Senate. Lawmakers from across the state and political spectrum recognized that Maine vehicle owners deserve the right to choose their repair shop and to keep their vehicle data safe, secure and accessible under clearly defined rules and regulations.

This bill is an opportunity to affirm Maine values, independence and transparency. It was crafted with care, shaped by input from legal experts, technology professionals, industry voices and cybersecurity experts and was written to evolve with technology while keeping consumer rights at the forefront.

The Legislature did its job. It’s time for the executive branch to catch up.