Disruption

Right-to-repair bills make slow progress in states

They would force equipment manufacturers to provide consumers and independent repair shops with what they need to fix it themselves.
Colorado Rep. Brianna Titone sits in the wheel of a teactor on display before Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation that forces manufacturers to provide the necessary manuals, tools, parts and even software to farmers so they can fix their own machines Tuesday, April 25, 2023, during a ceremony outside the State Capitol in downtown Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Legislation that would allow consumers to get their high-end equipment repaired by independent operators rather than authorized dealers is making slow progress in states across the nation as most legislatures wrap up their work for the year.

The new proposals would force manufacturers of the equipment to provide diagnostics and maintenance tools and repair instructions to consumers and those independent repair shops, conveying what supporters say is a consumer’s “right to repair” their own equipment.

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