STATEMENT: N.Y. governor signs Right to Repair, after trimming it down significantly

ALBANY – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the nation’s first electronic Right to Repair bill late on Wednesday, though the governor narrowed its scope in exchange for her support.

The original bill, passed overwhelmingly by state lawmakers in June, would have made New York the first state to require manufacturers of digital electronics such as phones, tablets and IT equipment to provide access to the parts, tools and information needed to repair equipment. The law now excludes any “product sold under a specific business-to-government or business-to-business contract … not otherwise offered for sale directly by a retail seller,” and now only applies to products made after July 1, 2023. Such changes could limit the benefits for school computers and most products currently in use. Even more troubling, the bill now excludes certain smartphone circuit boards from parts the manufacturers are required to sell, and requires repair shops to post unwieldy warranty language.

The governor’s signature and weakening amendments come after reports of intense lobbying by corporate opposition to the bill on one side, and, on the other side, thousands of emails and phone calls from New Yorkers in support of signing the original bill. 

PIRG’s Senior Right to Repair Campaign Director Nathan Proctor made the following statement after this important bill signing:

“Today is a critical milestone for repair and the Right to Repair campaign. I’ve pushed for repair reforms in dozens of states, and been told by industry lobbyists that we’d never see a floor vote, that we’d never pass a bill, that a governor would never sign it. And while it’s not everything we wanted, it’s the first of its kind in the nation, and just the start. 

“Our goal is, and has always been, to make sure people can fix their stuff. That’s what is needed to cut electronic waste and pollution from our electronics. That’s what will save consumers money and restore control of our gadgets. With this bill signing, we’re closer to that goal than ever. 

“We knew it was going to be difficult to face down the biggest and wealthiest companies in the world. But, though trimmed down, a new Right to Repair law was signed. Now our work remains to strengthen this law and pass others until people have what they need to fix their stuff. 

“I am incredibly proud of our scrappy coalition of tinkerers, fixers, repair shops, DIYers, and consumer and environmental advocates which continues to stand up to the most powerful manufacturers in the world. We’re grateful for our terrific legislative champions, Asm. Pat Fahy and Sen. Neil Breslin. We will continue to push for Right to Repair because it’s an idea whose time has come.”  

The bill was backed by a broad coalition, including U.S. PIRG and NYPIRG, Repair.org, iFixit, Consumer Reports, Sierra Club, the Story of Stuff Project, Natural Resources Defense Council, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Environmental Action and Environment New York.