Bill > H7180

This bill establishes a "Digital Electronics Right to Repair Act" that will take effect upon passage and apply to digital electronic equipment and parts sold in the state on or after January 1, 2027, allowing for repairs by independent repair providers. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will be required to make documentation, parts, and tools available to independent repair providers and owners on fair and reasonable terms, meaning at costs and terms equivalent to those offered to authorized repair providers, with documentation and tools generally provided at no charge unless a physical copy is requested. The bill also prohibits OEMs from using practices like "parts pairing" – a method where software identifies parts with a unique identifier – to prevent the installation or reduce the functionality of replacement parts installed by independent repairers or owners, or to create misleading alerts. Furthermore, OEMs must provide necessary tools and documentation to deactivate security locks for repair purposes with owner permission, and the bill includes provisions for enforcement by the attorney general, limitations on divulging trade secrets, and clarifies that OEMs are not liable for damages caused by independent repair providers unless due to design or manufacturing defects.

Business and Industry

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