Bill > HB162

This bill establishes the Digital Right to Repair Act, which requires digital product manufacturers to make available to independent service providers and product owners the necessary documentation, parts, and tools needed to diagnose, maintain, and repair digital products. The bill defines a "digital product" as any product that relies on digital electronics for its functioning and mandates that manufacturers provide these repair resources on the same terms they offer to their authorized service providers, with reasonable cost limitations. Manufacturers must provide repair documentation without charge (though they can charge for physical copies), make parts available at the same favorable terms as their authorized providers, and offer tools without impediments to their use. The bill includes important protections, such as preventing manufacturers from voiding warranties due to independent repairs and exempting trade secrets from disclosure. Notably, the law does not apply to motor vehicles and includes specific provisions for farm equipment. The bill also adds violations of these repair rights to the state's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Act, making such violations legally actionable. The law will take effect on January 1, 2026, and applies to digital products sold or leased in Alaska from that date forward, without changing existing contracts or licenses.

Government Affairs

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB162