What Does the Right to Repair Act Actually Say?

There isn't a single "Right to Repair Act." There's a patchwork of state-level laws in the US, a binding EU directive, and various national regulations elsewhere. But the core principle is consistent: if a manufacturer sells you a product, they can't deliberately prevent you from repairing it. Most laws share these requirements: Parts availability. Manufacturers must make replacement parts available to independent repair providers — not just authorised centres. Typically the same genuine parts, at comparable prices, for 5–10 years after the product is last manufactured. Diagnostic tools and software. The diagnostic and calibration tools that authorised technicians use must also be available…

Which States Have Passed Right to Repair Laws?

As of early 2026, eight states have enacted electronics right to repair laws. Rather than duplicating our detailed state-by-state analysis (see our Right to Repair 2026 overview for full details), here's the consolidated timeline: State | Law | Effective Date | Most Notable Feature New York | Digital Fair Repair Act | Jul 2023 | First state to enact Minnesota | Digital Fair Repair Act | Jul 2024 | Broad device coverage California | SB 244 | Jul 2024 | Parts for 7 years (devices >$100) Oregon | SB 1596 | Jan 2025 | First parts pairing ban Colorado | HB24-1121 | Jan 2026 | Parts pairing ban + agricultural equipment Washington | HB 1483 | Jan 2026 | AG enforcement under Consumer Protection Act…

What About Federal Right to Repair?

There is no federal law yet. The REPAIR Act (H.R.1566 / S.1355) and the Fair Repair Act (H.R.7404) have been introduced but face significant industry opposition. Federal legislation would create a single standard across all 50 states — far simpler than the current patchwork. But progress has been frustratingly slow. In December 2025, right-to-repair provisions were stripped from the 2026 National Defence Authorisation Act despite wide bipartisan support. The FTC has been more active than Congress, issuing policy statements and taking enforcement actions against manufacturers who restrict repairs through warranty void clauses. But FTC action is no substitute for legislation. The honest…

Where Does the UK Stand?

To be direct: the UK's position is disappointing compared to the EU and several US states. The UK has the Ecodesign for Energy-Related Products Regulations, which since 2021 require manufacturers of certain large appliances to make spare parts available for up to 10 years. From early 2026, large electronics retailers must provide free home collection for waste electricals when delivering a replacement. But for smartphones, tablets and laptops — the products that make up the bulk of most repair shops' revenue — there is no UK equivalent of the US state laws or the EU directive. DEFRA's Circular Economy Taskforce is developing a strategy, and campaigners at The Restart Project are pushing…

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Industry & Regulation

The Right to Repair Act: A Plain-English Guide for Repair Shop Owners

I've been fixing phones, tablets and laptops since the late nineties — back when Nokia screens were practically indestructible and a "repair" often meant swapping a battery that was designed to come o

Sajad

|21 October 2025|12 min read

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Part of: Right to Repair & Industry Regulation

State	Law	Effective Date	Most Notable Feature
New York	Digital Fair Repair Act	Jul 2023	First state to enact
Minnesota	Digital Fair Repair Act	Jul 2024	Broad device coverage
California	SB 244	Jul 2024	Parts for 7 years (devices >$100)
Oregon	SB 1596	Jan 2025	First parts pairing ban
Colorado	HB24-1121	Jan 2026	Parts pairing ban + agricultural equipment
Washington	HB 1483	Jan 2026	AG enforcement under Consumer Protection Act
Connecticut	R2R law	Jul 2026	Phased implementation
Texas	R2R law	Sep 2026	One of the largest state markets

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Written by

Sajad

Co-founder — 25 years in tech repair

Sajad has spent 25 years in the tech repair industry — running repair shops, marketing businesses, content companies, and creative agencies. He previously founded CellTech, a tech repair business in Birmingham. After two years of development, he built cellbot to solve the problem he saw every day: independent repair shops losing customers because their websites couldn't quote prices, book repairs, or answer questions outside business hours.

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