Right to repair laws by state: what they actually cover

Right to repair is often reported as though a single national rule now exists. It does not. What exists is a patchwork of state laws, each with its own scope, its own effective date, and its own list of exclusions.

It is also a moving target. New laws take effect most years, existing ones get amended, and enforcement dates slip.

What these laws generally require

Where a law applies, a manufacturer usually has to make available to independent repair providers and to owners, on terms no less favourable than it offers its own authorised network: replacement parts, repair documentation, and the tools or software needed to complete and finish a repair.

That last item is the one with teeth. A part is useless if the device refuses to recognise it, which is why the software and calibration element matters more than the parts obligation on its own.

The states that moved first

New York was the first state to enact a consumer electronics repair law. Its Digital Fair Repair Act was signed at the end of 2022 and took effect on 28 December 2023, applying to digital electronic products first sold or used in the state on or after 1 July 2023.

California’s Right to Repair Act (SB 244) and Minnesota’s Digital Fair Repair Act both took effect on 1 July 2024. California’s is notable for tying the obligation to price: it applies to products at or above a wholesale threshold, with a longer parts-availability window for more expensive products than for cheaper ones. Enforcement rests with the state attorney general and local prosecutors, with escalating daily penalties for repeat violations.

Colorado’s HB24-1121 was signed in May 2024 and took effect on 1 January 2026. Oregon’s SB 1596 is the one most often cited by repair advocates, because it addresses parts pairing directly rather than only requiring parts to be sold.

Further states have since enacted consumer electronics provisions, including Connecticut and Texas with 2026 dates. This is the part of the picture that changes fastest.

The exclusions people run into

Every one of these laws carves out categories. Recurring exclusions across states include motor vehicles, medical devices, video game consoles, and agricultural, construction, mining and utility equipment. Equipment sold to businesses rather than consumers is frequently outside scope too.

New York’s law drew particular criticism during passage because amendments narrowed it substantially before signing. The enacted version covers digital electronics rather than appliances, and requires parity on documentation rather than on parts pricing.

Minnesota’s law includes an exemption for parts, tools and documentation related to cybersecurity. The scope of that carve-out is disputed, which is worth knowing if you are told a repair is blocked for security reasons.

Retroactivity: the question that decides your case

This is the detail that most often determines whether a law helps you, and it varies by state.

Some statutes apply only to products manufactured or first sold after the law’s effective date. Others reach back to products sold from 2021 onward. So two people in different states, holding identical devices bought on the same day, can have genuinely different rights.

Work out your device’s manufacture or first-sale date before you argue anything. It is the first thing that will be checked.

Parts pairing, and why it matters more than parts access

Parts pairing is the practice of serialising components so a replacement will only function fully if the manufacturer’s software authorises it. Install a genuine, identical part taken from another unit of the same model and the device may disable a feature or display a persistent warning.

A law that guarantees access to parts but permits pairing can be satisfied on paper while leaving repair practically blocked. Oregon was the first US state to address this directly, treating misleading parts-pairing alerts as a prohibited practice, and Colorado’s law follows a similar approach. New York’s and California’s laws are largely silent on software verification gates, which critics identify as the main gap in the earlier statutes.

Newer bills increasingly include parts-pairing provisions, and repair advocates expect that to continue. If you are comparing state laws, this is the provision to look for.

For more detail on the mechanism itself, see our guide to parts pairing.

What to do if a manufacturer refuses

Being in a covered state does not automatically win the argument, but it changes what you can ask for.

1. Identify the model and, if you can, the manufacture or first-sale date. This determines coverage.
2. Ask the manufacturer in writing for the specific part, documentation or tool, and reference your state law by name.
3. Keep the refusal in writing. A verbal no from a phone agent is not evidence.
4. File with your state attorney general’s consumer protection division. These laws are typically enforced by the state rather than through a private lawsuit, so this is the intended route rather than a last resort.

Note that this is separate from your warranty rights. Under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, a manufacturer generally cannot void your warranty simply because you used an independent repairer or a third-party part — see our guide on whether opening a device voids the warranty. State repair laws are about access to parts and information; Magnuson-Moss is about what happens to your coverage afterwards.

Where the law is heading

Bills have been introduced in a large majority of states, with dozens filed in a typical legislative session. Several states have passed narrower laws covering specific categories — powered wheelchairs, agricultural equipment, motor vehicles — without extending to consumer electronics.

The federal picture is different. The FTC’s 2021 report Nixing the Fix concluded that manufacturer repair restrictions were largely not justified, and the agency has pursued enforcement under existing warranty law rather than writing new repair rules. Federal repair bills have been introduced in Congress but none has been enacted.

Expect the state map to keep changing, and expect the contested ground to be parts pairing rather than parts access.

How to check your own state

Do not rely on a summary, including this one, for a decision that matters.

• Your state legislature’s website has the enacted bill text, which is the authoritative answer.
• Your state attorney general’s consumer protection pages often explain the law in plain terms and tell you how to file.
• The Repair Association maintains legislative tracking and is the closest thing to a maintained central source.

If you find something on this page that is out of date, tell us and we will correct it and update the review date.