Right-to-repair legislation is gaining significant momentum across the United States as lawmakers and advocates push for new laws to increase consumer access to equipment and vehicle repair data.

Key Points

• Seven states, including California, New York, and Washington, have already enacted comprehensive right-to-repair regulations covering electronics, vehicles, and farm equipment.
• Advocates are currently tracking 57 active right-to-repair bills across 22 states, with Maine recently advancing legislation focused on consumer electronics.
• Texas will implement a new law on September 1 that mandates repair access for phones, laptops, and tablets, though it excludes game consoles and medical devices.
• Senators Ben Ray Luján and Josh Hawley are co-sponsoring the bipartisan REPAIR Act to grant independent shops and owners access to vehicle diagnostic data.
• The National Federation of Independent Business reports that 89% of its members support these measures, establishing the issue as a primary legislative priority for 2026.

Why it Matters

These regulations aim to dismantle manufacturer-controlled repair monopolies that often force consumers into expensive, exclusive dealership service networks. By increasing competition and transparency, this movement could significantly lower maintenance costs for vehicle and electronics owners while empowering independent repair businesses.