New York was the first state to pass right to repair legislation for digital electronic devices with the New York Digital Fair Repair Act (the “NY DFRA”), effective Dec. 28, 2023, revolutionizing the right to repair legal landscape across the country. Following New York’s lead, Minnesota passed its own Digital Fair Repair Act, effective on July 1, 2024, similarly requiring that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) make available to independent repair shops and individuals all replacement parts, tools, and documentation for digital electronic devices that are made available to authorized repair providers. Now, California has passed its own Right to Repair Act for digital electronic devices and appliances, effective July 1, 2024.
This next development in right to repair legislation highlights the everchanging right to repair landscape and importance of understanding such legislation and related principles for compliance. In light of California’s leading position as the home of many large consumer product technology companies, the California Right to Repair Act is expected to significantly accelerate how OEMs that manufacture products dependent on digital and electronic components provide diagnostic information, equipment, tools, and replacement parts in their relevant markets.
