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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1291 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3698
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Steven S. Howitt
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to federal motor vehicle safety standards compliance.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Steven S. Howitt4th Bristol1/14/2025Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr.12th Hampden2/4/2025Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/10/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1291 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3698
By Representative Howitt of Seekonk, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3698) of
Steven S. Howitt, Angelo J. Puppolo, Jr. and Jacob R. Oliveira relative to federal motor vehicle
safety standards compliance. Transportation.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 5357 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to federal motor vehicle safety standards compliance.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby
2amended by adding the following section:-
3 Section 64. Vehicles 25 Years or Older; Registration Requirements
4 (a) For the purposes of this section, a "Kei car" shall be defined as a vehicle primarily
5manufactured in Japan, with the following specifications: a length no longer than 11 feet, a width
6no greater than 4.9 feet, a height no taller than 6.6 feet, and an engine displacement no larger
7than 660cc.
8 (b) For the purposes of this section, "Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards" shall refer
9to the federal regulations that allow motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment, which are 25 2 of 2
10years or older from the date of manufacture, to be imported into the United States and registered
11as outlined in 49 C.F.R. §§ 571 and 591, provided they were originally manufactured to meet the
12safety standards of their country of origin.
13 (c) The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles shall honor the Federal Motor Vehicle
14Safety Standards and shall register all vehicles 25 years or older as of the date of manufacture
15that were imported in compliance with 49 C.F.R. § 591, including vehicles classified as "Kei
16cars."
17 (d) The Registry of Motor Vehicles shall develop and implement an updated policy for
18the registration of Kei cars and shall honor inspection stickers for all automobiles imported in
19compliance with 49 C.F.R. § 591.