summary
Introduced
01/29/2025
01/29/2025
In Committee
03/21/2025
03/21/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Creates the Agricultural Equipment Repair Bill of Rights Act. Provides that, for the purpose of providing services for agricultural equipment in the State, an original equipment manufacturer shall, with fair and reasonable terms and costs, make available to an independent repair provider or owner of the manufacturer's equipment any documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools that are intended for use with the equipment or any part, including updates to documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools. Provides that, with respect to agricultural equipment that contains an electronic security lock or other security-related function, a manufacturer shall, with fair and reasonable terms and costs, make available to independent repair providers and owners any documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools needed to reset the lock or function when disabled in the course of providing services. Provides that the manufacturer may make the documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools available to independent repair providers and owners through appropriate secure release systems. Provides that these provisions do not apply to a part that is no longer available to the original equipment manufacturer or conduct that would require the manufacturer to divulge a trade secret. Provides that a manufacturer shall not refuse to make available to an independent repair provider or owner any documentation, part, embedded software, firmware, or tool necessary to provide services on grounds that the documentation, part, embedded software, firmware, or tool itself is a trade secret, except that information necessary to repair agricultural equipment may not be redacted. Provides exceptions. Defines terms.
AI Summary
This bill creates the Agricultural Equipment Repair Bill of Rights Act, which requires original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of agricultural machinery to provide independent repair providers and equipment owners with access to documentation, parts, software, firmware, and tools needed to repair agricultural equipment under fair and reasonable terms. The bill defines agricultural equipment as machinery used for farming, such as tractors, combines, and balers, but excludes vehicles primarily designed for transportation and agricultural aircraft. Under the law, manufacturers must make repair resources available at costs equivalent to what they offer their authorized repair providers, and provide documentation updates at no charge. The bill allows manufacturers to use secure release systems and protect trade secrets, but prohibits them from withholding critical repair information. Manufacturers cannot refuse to provide repair resources just because the materials themselves might be considered trade secrets, though they can redact sensitive information that does not impair the documentation's usefulness. The legislation also includes important exceptions, such as preventing modifications that would violate safety, emissions, copyright, or patent laws, and clarifying that manufacturers are not liable for improper repairs performed by independent providers. The overall goal is to give farmers and independent repair shops more flexibility and access to repair their own agricultural equipment.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee (on 03/21/2025)
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1909&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&SessionID=114&GA=104 |
| BillText | https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/104/HB/10400HB1909.htm |
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