HF797 Summary

• Amends Minnesota Statutes section 80E.041, subdivision 4, to modify how manufacturers compensate dealers for warranty labor work.

• Changes warranty labor compensation calculation from manufacturer time allowances to the dealer's effective nonwarranty labor rate multiplied by actual time spent or manufacturer time guide, whichever applies.

• Expands diagnostic time compensation to include all time spent communicating with manufacturer technical assistance or external sources, with minimum compensation equal to what retail customers are charged for similar work.

• Establishes a 30-day window for manufacturers to disapprove a dealer's effective nonwarranty labor rate with reasonable substantiation comparing rates to similarly situated dealers in comparable geographic areas.

• Creates dispute resolution pathway requiring manufacturers to use internal procedures before dealers can file civil suits under section 80E.17, with lawsuits limited to 60 days after receiving proposed adjustment or completing dispute resolution.