HB 1914 Missouri House · 2026 Regular Session

Modifies provisions relating to franchisors' warranty duties to franchisees

HB 1914 modifies Missouri law to require franchisors to clearly outline in writing to franchisees in Missouri what warranty service obligations the franchisee must perform. It mandates that franchisors fairly compensate franchisees for warranty-related work (parts and labor) based on the franchisee's own standard non-warranty rates for similar services. Specifically, parts compensation must match what the franchisee charges retail customers for non-warranty parts, and labor compensation must equal the franchisee's regular non-warranty labor rate multiplied by actual repair time. The bill also requires franchisors to cover recall repair costs under these same compensation rules and sets time limits for processing franchisee claims. This directly affects franchisees (e.g., auto dealers, restaurant operators) who provide warranty service under franchisor agreements in Missouri.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Dec 1, 2025 Last action Apr 1, 2026
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What changed between versions

Introduced House Committee Substitute · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to strengthen protections for auto repair shops by clarifying how franchisors must compensate dealers for warranty work. Key changes include removing language that allowed franchisors to set their own compensation schedules, requiring dealers to receive the same effective labor rate as customers, and mandating that all diagnostic and communication time be fully compensated. The amendment also updated the timeline for claim approvals from thirty days to twenty days.
Scope change
The scope of compensation requirements was expanded to explicitly include diagnostic time and external communication time for all warranty repairs, including recalls.
REQUIREMENT

Replaced vague language about 'reasonable compensation' with a specific mandate that franchisors must pay dealers the same effective labor rate they charge customers for repairs.

Added explicit requirements that franchisors must compensate dealers for all diagnostic time and time spent communicating with technical assistance centers during warranty repairs.

Removed provisions that allowed franchisors to request documentation from dealers to substantiate parts charges, reducing potential administrative burdens on dealers.

Clarified that compensation schedules must cover all warranty obligations, including recalls and voluntary stop-sell repairs, without exception.

TIMELINE

Reduced the timeframe for franchisors to approve or disapprove warranty claims from thirty days to twenty days.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
12
Key actions
4
Committee
6
Apr 1, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 12 NOES: 0 PRESENT: 0
lower
Mar 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Mar 24, 2026
Committee
Referred: Rules - Legislative(H)
lower
Mar 16, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Reported Do Pass (H) - AYES: 9 NOES: 3 PRESENT: 1
lower
Mar 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
HCS Voted Do Pass (H)
lower
Jan 8, 2026
Committee
Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
lower
Dec 1, 2025
Introduced
Prefiled (H)
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of David Casteel
David Casteel
RRepublican
MO
97