Wisconsin became the final U.S. state to introduce Right to Repair legislation today, marking a historic milestone in the decade-long push to give consumers and independent repair shops access to parts and documentation needed to fix electronic devices.
Why it matters: The nationwide introduction of repair legislation signals a dramatic shift in consumer rights, as one in five Americans now lives in states with active Right to Repair laws protecting their ability to fix their own devices.
Legislative Progress: The movement has gained significant momentum across the country, with several states taking decisive action. The current landscape shows varying levels of progress in protecting repair rights:
- Six states have passed Right to Repair laws
- Twenty states are actively considering legislation
- All remaining states have introduced bills
Consumer Protection: The legislation aims to address several key issues that have long frustrated device owners and repair shops. These laws typically require manufacturers to provide essential resources that enable repairs by:
- Making repair manuals publicly available
- Selling replacement parts to consumers
- Removing software locks that restrict repairs
“Here, there and everywhere—people just want to fix their stuff,” says Nathan Proctor, PIRG‘s Senior Right to Repair Campaign Director. “Americans are fed up with all the ways in which manufacturers of everything from toasters to tractors frustrate or block repairs.”
Oregon currently has the strongest protections, having banned “parts pairing” – a practice where manufacturers require new components to be digitally authorized before working. The state’s law, which took effect January 1, prevents manufacturers from using software to force consumers to buy parts directly from them.
The movement has gained surprising allies, with Google supporting Right to Repair initiatives and Xbox recently partnering with iFixit to sell console repair parts – a significant shift for the gaming industry, which typically opposes such legislation.
Looking ahead, advocates aim to close loopholes in existing laws while expanding coverage to more device categories. Currently, most state laws focus on consumer electronics, though some include provisions for agricultural equipment, wheelchairs, and automobiles.
