Right to repair is no longer a fringe issue — it's now law in six states and growing

Right to repair laws require manufacturers to make the parts, tools, and documentation needed to repair a device available to consumers and independent repair shops, not just an authorized service network. What started as a niche advocacy issue has become real, enforceable law in a genuinely fast-moving way — California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, and Oregon all have electronics-specific laws in effect, with Washington's joining them as of January 1, 2026, and Texas and Connecticut set to follow later this year.

The most consequential recent addition is Oregon's and Colorado's ban on “parts pairing” — the practice of using serialized software to detect when a non-original part has been installed and degrade functionality or throw warnings as a result. Advocates had specifically criticized parts pairing as a technical workaround that let manufacturers technically comply with earlier repair mandates while still making independent repair impractical in practice.

More than 33 right-to-repair bills were introduced across 13 states in just the first weeks of this year's legislative sessions, and the scope is expanding beyond consumer electronics into agricultural equipment, wheelchairs and mobility devices, and vehicles — each with its own advocacy push and, often, its own industry pushback citing safety or security concerns about non-authorized repair.

For any IT business that does hardware repair, refurbishment, or hands-on field work — which includes exactly the kind of work Aventrac takes on directly — this isn't abstract policy news. It's the legal foundation that makes independent repair work viable at all in states where it applies, and it's worth knowing whether your state is one of them.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney for guidance specific to your situation.