Recently introduced legislation that would require the Department of Community and Economic Development to issue a waiver allowing all car dealerships to open during the coronavirus pandemic has passed the House State Government Committee.
Under House Bill 2388, which now heads to the House floor for consideration, all dealerships would be required to institute the recommended Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
Rep. Natalie Mihalek (R-Allegheny/Washington), who introduced the legislation, was pleased with the bill’s passage out of committee, stating that it was a step in the right direction for Pennsylvania dealerships.
“I know one of our primary functions as a government is to keep our citizens safe from harm,” Mihalek said. “There has to be a balance between the preservation of public health and absolute economic devastation. Our surrounding states have found a way to keep these sales moving with zero human interaction, and I think we can do that here too. We can do this smartly for our businesses and we can do this safely for our consumers.”
Gov. Tom Wolf ordered many businesses to close to slow the spread of COVID-19. Car dealerships were among those businesses. The dealerships employ more than 50,000 people who are now facing hardship, Mihalek said.
Mihalek said she felt it necessary to introduce the bill after speaking to a nurse who needed to replace her car to make it to Pittsburgh to treat COVID-19 patients as well as to car dealers and the dealers who have pledged to use strict safety precautions.
Since its introduction, the measure has received immense bipartisan support.