Wisconsin became the final state to pass right-to-repair legislation last Thursday, a victory for a movement that has gained amazing traction over the past decade. With this, all 50 states have now passed or introduced bills to allow consumers to repair their own equipment and devices.
A Nationwide Change
The Right to Repair movement, initially a local activism campaign initiated by dedicated consumer rights activists, has now become a strong national movement. Already, six states, namely Massachusetts, New York, Minnesota, Colorado, California, and Oregon, have passed right-to-repair bills. Another 20 states have also introduced such bills during the current legislative session.
“Now that Wisconsin has brought their first Right to Repair bill, we’ve swept the 50 states and have bills introduced in all of them. Our legislative map is now blank-free,” Repair.org Executive Director Gay Gordon-Byrne said. “This means that Right to Repair is needed everywhere—and we’re well on our way to making that a reality.”
What Right to Repair Means for Consumers
Right-to-repair legislation aims to dismantle walls companies have constructed around repairing electronic products, farm machinery, medical devices, and other goods. The legislation typically requires that manufacturers make repair parts available to consumers, publish detailed repair manuals, and prohibit the use of “software locks” designed to restrict repairs to authorized experts.
For consumers, the consequences are far-reaching: cheaper repair costs, longer lifespan for products, less electronic waste, and greater freedom to choose what they purchase.
The journey to this victory has not been smooth. The battle in the early days faced stiff resistance from technology manufacturers whose lobbyists were able to persuade the legislators that right to repair would come at the cost of device security or facilitate hacking.
But relentless campaigning eventually changed public opinion. Consumer rights activists were able to convey a powerful message: people should be able to repair what they own. This simple but powerful assumption appealed to millions of Americans tired of planned obsolescence and intentionally limited repair possibilities.
Right to Repair Momentum Grows Amidst Consumer Frustration
Nathan Proctor, director of the consumers’ rights group PIRG‘s right to repair initiative, said, “Americans are tired of all the ways the companies that produce the toaster to the tractor make it hard or impossible to repair, and state legislators are hearing that frustration and acting on it.”
The popularity of the movement can be witnessed in support from the Biden administration and the Federal Trade Commission, which have recognized the economic and environmental benefits of repair rights. This support from the government has added weight and significance to the campaign.
Even corporate opposition has started to erode. Major industry players like Apple, Google, and John Deere—formerly vociferous right–to-repair adversaries—have incrementally altered their policies to enable more repair access, although supporters argue those actions are still inadequate.
Right to Repair: A National Movement Gaining Momentum
Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, the preeminent repair information company, referred to the national coverage as a “tipping point” for the movement. “We’ve shifted from a handful of dedicated enthusiasts to a national call for repair freedom. Folks are sick of disposable goods and locked-down devices. Repair is the future, and this moment proves it.”
Although getting bills introduced in all 50 states is a remarkable feat, there is much more to be done. Bills have been killed or stuck in many states during previous legislative sessions, and industry opposition continues even as its impact wanes.
The legislative pathway of right-to-repair bills takes years, requiring sustained pressure and advocacy from the public. Yet, the movement suggests that there is a new national consensus building on the right of consumers to repair.
As more states enact these laws and more companies make these practices business as usual, the right-to-repair movement seeks to redefine in a fundamental sense the relationship between consumers and producers, ensuring repair as a right rather than a privilege offered at a manufacturer’s discretion. This victory is not only a legislative landmark but a cultural transformation towards sustainability, consumer power, and resistance to the throwaway culture that has dominated consumer electronics for decades.
