Sponsors (3)
The bill expands repair access and competition for consumers and small repair businesses by requiring OEMs to provide parts, tools, and documentation, while trading off increased security/IP exposure, potential higher costs passed to buyers, and gaps or legal frictions that could limit or delay relief for some devices and stakeholders.
Small-business repair shops, independent technicians, and device owners gain routine access to parts, tools, and technical documentation so they can fix devices locally, increasing repair options and likely lowering repair costs.
Device owners (including lessees) and consumers retain the right to choose independent or owner repair rather than being forced to use OEM-only service, preserving competition and consumer choice.
Independent repair providers face lower legal exposure and liability risk when servicing devices, reducing compliance uncertainty and operating costs for small shops.
Owners and public safety could face increased security and intellectual-property risks because requiring OEMs to share technical documentation, pairing tools, or codes can expose sensitive details if not tightly limited.
OEMs will likely incur higher compliance, tooling, and distribution costs to supply parts, tools, and documentation, costs that could be passed on to consumers through higher device prices.
Key categories (e.g., vehicles, many medical devices, emergency communications, off‑road equipment) are broadly exempted, leaving many owners without expanded repair access under the law.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Requires manufacturers of digital electronics to provide owners and independent repair providers access to repair documentation, parts, and tools on fair terms and bans tactics that block repairs.
Introduced February 5, 2026 by Joseph Morelle · Last progress February 5, 2026
Requires makers of digital electronic equipment to provide owners and independent repair providers with the documentation, replacement parts, tools, and software updates needed for diagnosis, maintenance, and repair on fair and reasonable terms. It bars manufacturers from using parts‑pairing or other technologies or practices that block, degrade, or discourage repairs, and preserves trade‑secret protection subject to the need to supply repair information. Enforcement is by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, with civil remedies and rulemaking authority; certain product categories (motor vehicles, medical devices, some off‑road vehicles, and some emergency safety communications equipment) are excluded. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment and applies to equipment sold or in use on or after that date.