A Florida bill that would require collision repair shops to obtain crash reports from customers before fixing vehicle has been approved by two Senate committees in recent weeks. 

Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) refiled SB 92 on Dec. 10. The bill would be effective Jan. 1, if it passes.

The bill uses the same title, “Lilly Glaubach Act,” as SB 194, which was filed by Gruters in 2023 but was not successfully passed. Both bills are in honor of Lily Glaubach, 13, who died following a hit-and-run crash. 

It later emerged that the driver convicted of killing her, David Chang, took his car to a repair center immediately after striking the girl, telling employees that a fallen tree damaged the vehicle.

The new bill will require repair shops to request a written crash report after writing an estimate to repair a vehicle involved in a collision that resulted in damage estimated at $2,500 or more. 

If the customer does not provide a crash report, the shop would be required to transmit a copy of the repair estimate to a database maintained by the Department of Law Enforcement. The report must be transmitted within three business days after finalizing the repair estimate. 

If the bill is passed, repair shops would face having their registration revoked by the state if found in violation of the law. 

The bill passed the Committee on Commerce and Tourism March 3 and the Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government March 18.  It has been sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Florida Auto Body Association (FABA) Executive Director Ementi Coary said most collision bills, even for minor fender benders, often cost more than $2,500. He said the bill also would prevent consumers from paying out of pocket to circumvent increased insurance premiums. 

FABA also recently sent a letter to legislators opposing SB 0092 and its companion, HB807. 

“We understand and share the desire to address the tragic issue of hit-and-run accidents, exemplified by the heartbreaking case of Lilly Glaubach,” the letter says. “We agree that those responsible for these crimes must be held accountable. However, we believe that these bills, as currently drafted, misplace the responsibility for addressing this complex problem and impose undue burdens on Florida’s auto body shops.”

The extensive documentation and reporting requirements for repair facilities mandated in the bills would place significant administrative and financial strain on businesses, particularly small, family-owned shops, the letter says. 

“These requirements will divert crucial resources away from our core function: safely and efficiently repairing vehicles,” the letter says. “Furthermore, the severe penalties for non-compliance, even for unintentional errors, pose a significant threat to the viability of these small businesses.”

Other solutions for addressing hit-and-run incidents are suggested in the letter including: 

• • Strengthening law enforcement efforts;
  • Improving public awareness campaigns; and
  • Exploring technological solutions, such as enhancing license plate readers

Coary said FABA has only been an association since November and this is the first legislation it has focused on. 

“Hopefully we can get some body shop owners to start knocking on doors,” Coary said. 

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