Right-to-Repair Laws Gain Political Momentum Across America
Source: Slashdot
Current State of Right‑to‑Repair Legislation
“California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, Connecticut, Oregon and Washington have all passed comprehensive right‑to‑repair regulations,” reports CNBC, “covering everything from consumer electronics and farm equipment to wheelchairs and automobiles.” The consumer movement continues to gain political momentum across the United States.
Key Bills and State Actions
- 57 right‑to‑repair bills are being tracked in 22 states this year.
- Maine: The state Senate has advanced a bill that would extend right‑to‑repair protections to electronics.
- Texas: A new right‑to‑repair law takes effect on Sept. 1, covering phones, laptops, and tablets while excluding medical and farm equipment, as well as game consoles.
Federal Efforts: The REPAIR Act
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D‑NM) and Senator Josh Hawley (R‑MO) have co‑sponsored the REPAIR Act. The bill would:
- Require automakers to provide vehicle owners, independent repair shops, and aftermarket manufacturers with secure access to repair and maintenance data.
- Prevent manufacturers from funneling consumers into exclusive, higher‑cost dealership repair networks.
Senator Hawley emphasized the need to curb corporate gatekeeping of diagnostic information:
“Big corporations have a history of gatekeeping basic information that belongs to car owners, effectively forcing consumers to pay a fixed price whenever their car is in the shop,” Hawley told CNBC. “The bipartisan REPAIR Act would end corporations’ control over diagnostics and service information and give consumers the right to repair their own equipment at a price most feasible for them.”
Industry and Small‑Business Support
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)—the largest small‑business lobby in the U.S.—reports that 89 % of its members support right‑to‑repair legislation, making it a top legislative priority for 2026.
Source: CNBC; additional details referenced from Slashdot.