Independent dealers landed in the nation’s capital on Monday, as the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association is hosting its 12th annual National Policy Conference.

There’s a two-part plan for these dealers coming to Washington, D.C.: Sharpen their advocacy skills and then carry their messages directly to Capitol Hill.

The conference opened with a general session featuring two panel discussions and regulatory updates. Officials representing the Federal Trade Commission and the Internal Revenue Service briefed attendees on regulatory developments affecting their businesses.

The day concluded with training to prepare dealers for their meetings with lawmakers on Tuesday.

Dealers will use their time on Capitol Hill to discuss four legislative priorities with members of Congress.

On right to repair, NIADA is urging Congress to include the REPAIR Act (H.R. 1566/S. 1379) in the safety title of the 2026 surface transportation reauthorization.

NIADA explained the bill would prohibit manufacturers from using technological or legal barriers to keep vehicle owners and their chosen repair providers from accessing the diagnostic data, repair information, and tools needed to safely maintain and repair today’s vehicles.

To combat catalytic converter theft, NIADA is asking lawmakers to cosponsor the bipartisan PART Act (H.R. 5221/S. 2238), which would require traceable identifiers on new catalytic converters, fund voluntary VIN-marking for converters already on the road, and create federal penalties for selling, purchasing, or trafficking in stolen converters.

On Consumer Financial Protection Bureau reform, dealers will ask lawmakers to support full House consideration of H.R. 10184, the Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act of 2026, which would subject the bureau’s budget to congressional appropriations and establish clearer standards for its enforcement authority.

NIADA pointed out the House Financial Services Committee voted to favorably report the bill out of committee right before recessing for the midterm elections.

Finally, on Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) reform, NIADA is calling on the full House to take up H.R. 5775, the FCRA Liability Harmonization Act.

The bill, which cleared the House Financial Services Committee in June, would bring more consistent, proportionate civil liability standards to the FCRA, according to the association.

“The REPAIR Act, the PART Act, the FCRA Liability Harmonization Act, and the Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act will define the regulatory landscape independent dealers operate in for years to come,” NIADA director of government relations and compliance Patrick O’Brien said in a news release.

“Our job this week is to make sure the lawmakers considering these bills hear directly from the dealers and understand the impact they have not just on their industry, but the constituents they serve in congressional districts across the country,” O’Brien continued.

NIADA CEO Jeff Martin added, “This week, our members aren’t just talking about policy. They’re affecting it.

“When dealers walk into a congressional office and explain how the REPAIR Act or CFPB reform affects their ability to serve their communities, that’s advocacy nobody else can do for them,” Martin went on to say.

For more information on NIADA’s National Policy Conference, visit niada.com/policyconference.