Posted: | December 12, 2024 01:55 PM |
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From: | Representative James B. Struzzi, II |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Extending Pennsylvania’s Lemon Law to Cover Farm Equipment |
In the near future, I will be reintroducing a bill (HB 1325 of 2023-24) to extend Pennsylvania’s Lemon Law to cover farm equipment. The purchase of agricultural equipment is a major expense for our farming families and the failure of this equipment can result in devastating consequences for those families and communities that depend on those crops. Certain farm implements, such as combines, harvesters, and tractors, can cost more than the house located on that same farm. While there are certain warranty protections that are provided federally under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. §2301 et seq.), those protections do not cover farm machinery or implements since they are used in the business of farming and not ‘personal use’. Our farmers deserve the same level of protection for their farm equipment that you and I receive under the Lemon Law when we purchase a new car. This would require manufacturers to fix defects that substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the equipment during the first year of ownership or if the equipment must be ‘in the shop’ for more than 30 days during the first year. Many states have already taken this legislative action, including Georgia, North Dakota, Missouri, Minnesota, New York, New Jersey, and South Dakota. Prior co-sponsors include: CIRESI, ECKER, KAUFFMAN, LEADBETER, MOUL, SMITH, STAMBAUGH, ZIMMERMAN, GILLEN, GLEIM, GREEN, WARNER and ROWE. I hope you will consider co-sponsoring this bill to help protect our farmers. |
Introduced as HB112