September 28, 2021 - Introduced by Representatives Spiros, Born, Callahan,
Conley, Duchow, Loudenbeck, Murphy, Novak, Ortiz-Velez, Plumer, Rozar,
Sinicki, Skowronski and Spreitzer, cosponsored by Senators Petrowski,
Cowles, Pfaff, Ringhand and Wanggaard. Referred to Committee on
Transportation.

AB581,1,6 1An Act to renumber and amend 341.51 (2), 341.55 (1) and 341.55 (2); to amend
2218.0114 (5) (c) and 340.01 (74t); and to create 218.0116 (1) (ns), 341.47 (1) (e)
3and 341.51 (2) (c) of the statutes; relating to: motor vehicle dealer and
4wholesaler facilities and licensure requirements, certain registration plates
5issued to motor vehicle dealers, distributors, or manufacturers, and creating
6and modifying administrative rules.

This bill makes several changes to the statutes and administrative code
provisions governing motor vehicle dealers and wholesalers. In particular, the bill
does the following:

1. Under current law, a motor vehicle wholesaler or an applicant for a motor
vehicle wholesaler license must provide and maintain in force a bond or irrevocable
letter of credit of not less than $25,000. The bill increases that amount to $50,000.

2. Under current law, manufacturers, importers, distributors, and dealers of
motor vehicles must be licensed by the Department of Transportation. A licensee
may have its license revoked if the licensee takes certain actions that have been
enumerated as violations. Under current law, one such violation is the willful failure
to provide and maintain certain facilities and business records. DOT has
promulgated rules providing specific requirements related to what types of facilities
must be maintained and what and how records must be maintained.

The bill modifies some of these administrative rules related to facilities and
records and imposes additional requirements, including:

a. Requiring dealers to maintain a facility that is heated and electrified.

b. Specifying that dealers' vehicle display lots must be not less than 9 feet by
18 feet.

c. Prohibiting more than five dealers or wholesalers from sharing a single
building.

d. Requiring dealers to have an office of not less than 8 feet by 8 feet with a door,
walls, lighting, and certain furnishings.