Mechanicsville, Virginia, January 2, 2026 – The Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) will host an open board meeting on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. in the Tapestry room at the Hilton Palm Springs, in Palm Springs, California. The meeting will include a return presentation from Patrick Dorais, Chief of the California Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), who will be joined by BAR Deputy Chief Bill Thomas.

SCRS invites industry members and especially encourages California collision repair businesses to join for the in-person opportunity to engage in important industry issues.

In 2023, California enacted AB 1263, authorizing BAR to adopt regulations that bring together and clarify existing statutes governing storage fees. Throughout 2024 and 2025, BAR engaged stakeholders in workshops and proposed rulemaking to address these issues through updated regulations.

During last year’s open meeting, SCRS welcomed BAR officials to discuss the regulations on teardown disclosures and storage and towing fees in the state.

During the January 2026 SCRS meeting, Dorais and Thomas will provide an update on the proposed storage-rule regulations and the results of the 45-day public comment period, which concluded on December 31, 2025.

The speakers will discuss the feedback received, how comments shaped the current rule language, and the expected next steps in the regulatory process. The session will include interactive discussion and audience Q&A.

“This is an important opportunity for repair facilities – especially those located here in California – to directly engage with regulators who influence the business environment our members operate in,” shared SCRS Secretary Andrew Batenhorst, who has also served as the California Autobody Association (CAA) Glendale/Foothill Chapter president. “SCRS values these open-dialog conversations that help bring clarity, transparency, and shared understanding to the industry.”

In addition to the BAR session, the meeting will also include:

  • The annual “Kool Tools from the SEMA Show and Beyond” presentation from the SCRS Education Committee
  • A repair planning presentation and update from Danny Gredinberg of the Database Enhancement Gateway (DEG)
  • Updates on SCRS programs, benefits and initiatives designed to serve the industry and provide member support

The SCRS open meeting is free to attend and open to all industry participants. Membership in SCRS is not required, and pre-registration is not necessary. Seating is first-come, first-served.

This meeting also provides an ideal venue for the collision repair community to not only engage in public dialog with BAR leadership, but also to discuss broader industry issues with SCRS leadership and other industry peers.

The Collision Industry Conference (CIC) will follow on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the same venue.

The CIC event page can be found here, and pre-registration for CIC closes January 14.

For more information about SCRS, or to join as a member, please visit www.scrs.com, call 1-877-841-0660 or email info@scrs.com.