Right-to-repair legislation sees little movement

Bills that mandate OEMs to release information and tools to ease electronics refurbishment have been introduced in legislatures across the country, but most of the proposals have struggled to gain traction.

Right-to-repair bills have been filed in at least 20 states this year, but none has passed a floor vote.

The bills have slight differences, but most generally follow a model bill published by Consumer Reports in December last year. E-Scrap News in February wrote about the state of right-to-repair bills early this year, when 16 states had introduced such legislation.

The following is a roundup of right-to-repair bills introduced this year.

California: The bill was introduced in February and referred to committee. No hearings are currently scheduled.
Georgia: The bill has had no action since a House reading on Feb. 14.
Hawaii: The bill was referred to committee, where it was deferred and received no further action.
Illinois: Bills in the Senate and House of Representatives sit in committee, with no action since late March.
Indiana: The bill has received no action since its introduction on Jan. 14.
Massachusetts: The bill was referred to a committee on Jan. 22 and has received no further action.
Minnesota: The legislation was advanced out of committee in the House, but has yet to go before the entire chamber for a floor vote.
Missouri: The bill was introduced and most recently referred to committee in late May.
Montana: A bill was in the process of being drafted but died without being introduced.
Nevada: A bill was in the process of being drafted but has not been introduced this year.
New Hampshire: The bill was referred to committee and has not received action since early March.
New Jersey: A bill introduced during the 2018 legislative session is still in committee.
New York: The bill was introduced and referred to committee, where it has not received further action.
North Dakota: The bill moved through committee and failed to pass a floor vote.
Oregon: The bill was referred to a committee and had a public hearing, but has not received action since late April.
South Dakota: The bill was read and referred to a committee, where it was deferred without further action.
Vermont: A bill was introduced and referred to committee and has not received further action.
Virginia: The bill was referred to committee, where it received no further action.
Washington: Bills were introduced in the Senate and House of Representatives and referred to committees. It passed out of the House committee but has not gone to the floor for a full chamber vote.
West Virginia: The bill was referred to committee, where it received no further action.