Bill > S3068

This bill (the Freedom for Agricultural Repair and Maintenance Act or FARM Act) aims to require original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of farm equipment to make repair documentation, parts, software, tools, and farm equipment data available to equipment owners and independent repair providers on fair and reasonable terms. Specifically, the bill mandates that OEMs provide access to diagnostic tools, software, firmware, and documentation needed to repair farm equipment, including the ability to disable security functions. The bill allows farmers and independent repair shops to circumvent technological protections for the purpose of diagnosing, maintaining, upgrading, or repairing farm equipment, which addresses current restrictions that limit equipment owners' ability to fix their own machinery. The legislation establishes that OEMs must ensure replacement parts can be installed without damaging equipment and must maintain availability of repair materials, with escalating financial penalties for non-compliance. The Federal Trade Commission would be responsible for enforcing the act, treating violations as unfair or deceptive practices. The bill includes important limitations, such as protecting trade secrets and preventing modifications that would compromise safety systems or violate emissions and copyright laws, thereby balancing the interests of equipment manufacturers and equipment owners.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3068/all-info