California Becomes Third State to Approve Right-to-Repair Law, Requiring Manufacturers to Provide Repair Resources
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill into law that establishes California as the third US state to approve right-to-repair legislation. The new law, set to take effect in July 2024, will require electronics manufacturers to make repair parts, tools, documentation, and software available to consumers and independent repair shops. Advocates of the legislation believe that it is the most comprehensive and consumer-friendly right-to-repair law passed to date.
The right-to-repair movement aims to counter manufacturers’ practices of monopolizing repair services, promoting accessibility, affordability, and wider availability of repair options for consumers. iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens stated, The era of manufacturers’ repair monopolies is ending, as well it should be, endorsing the new legislation.
California’s right-to-repair legislation, known as Senate Bill 244, goes beyond the measures adopted in Minnesota and New York. It mandates a longer period during which manufacturers must provide access to repair resources. For electronics priced between $50 and $99, manufacturers will need to make repair resources available for three years. For products over $100, the requirement extends to a significant seven years. The law covers most consumer electronics and appliances manufactured and sold after July 1, 2021, giving consumers the potential to request repair tools for their devices until as late as 2030.
While this is not California’s first attempt to implement right-to-repair measures, it is considered the most robust effort thus far. The bill received unanimous support from the California state assembly with a vote of 50-0, and it previously passed the state senate with a unanimous vote of 38-0. Environmental groups, repair shops, and even Apple backed the legislation, highlighting the broad-based support it garnered in the state.
California’s large population means that this law could have ramifications beyond its borders, leading to an increased availability of repair resources for consumers across the nation. The legislation also has the potential to create a California Effect, whereby manufacturers adopt the provision of repair resources as a standard practice nationwide, to avoid the complexities of navigating varying state-by-state laws. Repair.org reports that approximately 45 other states have considered some form of right-to-repair legislation.
Although California’s new law is extensive, there are exceptions, including game consoles and alarm systems. The legislation explicitly excludes gaming devices like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 from being categorized as all-purpose computers, despite their apparent similarity to other devices covered by the legislation. Additionally, fire protection systems and other electronics defined as alarm systems are not included under the law’s definition of an electronic or appliance product.
The right-to-repair battles have seen last-minute changes and exemptions. In New York, independent repair advocates criticized late-stage amendments they believe created loopholes allowing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to evade providing the public with essential materials for repairs. Manufacturers can also supply users with assemblies of parts instead of the specific components required for a particular repair.
Perhaps the most surprising aspect of California’s robust right-to-repair legislation is the support it received from Apple. Previously seen as opposing the right-to-repair movement, Apple stunned many by endorsing the bill. In a letter to state senator Susan Talamantes Eggman’s staff, Apple’s policy team expressed support for the legislation if it mandated repair shops to disclose the use of non-genuine or used parts.
Apple’s backing of the legislation reflects a larger shift in the company’s stance on the right to repair. In late 2021, Apple announced its Self-Service Repair program, through which customers can purchase parts and tools to repair their devices at home.
With California joining Minnesota and New York in passing right-to-repair legislation, the movement continues to gain traction. As more states consider similar measures, the accessibility and affordability of repair resources for consumers may become a nationwide standard.
