Governor Kotek signs the Right to Repair Act into law

When your smartphone or other tech devices break, you should be able to easily get them fixed. But when the manufacturer or their authorized service provider are the only ones with access to the necessary parts, tools and manuals, it can make repair difficult and expensive.

But in Oregon, that’s about to change. 

On Wednesday, Governor Tina Kotek signed the Right to Repair Act (Senate Bill 1596), which requires manufacturers to provide Oregonians and small businesses access to the parts, tools and service information we need to repair personal electronics and household appliances. This will help Oregonians save money, support small businesses, protect consumers, close the digital divide and keep these devices in use for longer, conserving precious natural resources and preventing waste.

“As a tech industry leader, Oregon is no stranger to innovation. I’m proud that we’re moving forward on an innovation even more critical than a new gadget: the right to fix our electronic devices,” said Charlie Fisher, OSPIRG state director,  “By eliminating manufacturer restrictions, the Right to Repair will make it easier for Oregonians to keep their personal electronics running. That will conserve precious natural resources and prevent waste. It’s a refreshing alternative to a ‘throwaway’ system that treats everything as disposable.”

“Oregon has a proud history of passing forward thinking policies that help Oregonians steward and respect the resources that go into making the products we use everyday, and we are building on that legacy with the Right to Repair Act” said Celeste Meiffren-Swango, state director of Environment Oregon. “Thanks to the hard work of Senator Janeen Sollman, Representative Courtney Neron and many other legislators, advocates and thousands of people who made their voices heard, Oregon is leading the way.”

The Right to Repair Act will go into effect on January 1, 2025.