But in demanding that manuals, tools, and parts be made available for most electronics and appliances, Minnesota's recently passed right-to-repair bill covers the most ground of any US state yet.
New York's bill, beset by lobbyists, was signed in modified form by Gov. Kathy Hochul late last year.
It also exempted motor vehicles and medical devices, as well as devices sold before July 1, 2023, and all "business-to-business" and "business-to-government" devices.
Colorado last month passed a repair bill aimed specifically at tractors and other agricultural machinery, set to take effect next year.
Minnesota's bill, by comparison, covers most electronic products sold on or after July 1, 2021, and doesn't allow for as much manufacturer discretion.
Kyle Wiens, CEO of repair vendor and advocate iFixit, and Gay Gordon-Byrne, director of Repair.org, expressed disappointment with this carve-out.
While seemingly narrow, it remains to be seen how far manufacturers can stretch "critical" or "cybersecurity" in refusing to provide repair tools. »
