Defeat does not mean the end

COLLISION COMMENT

The failure of California Senate Bill (S.B.)1648 to garner sufficient support during a critical vote on the Assembly floor left many supporters of the bill shocked and disappointed. S.B. 1648, introduced in February by Sen. Jackie Speier (D-San Francisco/San Mateo), sought to ban insurance company investment and ownership of collision repair facilities. The fact that the bill received a majority of favorable votes, but fell short by just the seven votes needed to pass, was an anti-climatic end to the efforts of supporters.

The question for proponents of this bill is one of next steps. Will proponents of restriction on insurers fold up their tents and go …