Colorado committee advances tractor Right to Repair

The Colorado Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources committee passed the Consumer Right to Repair Agricultural Equipment Act (HB 1101) on Monday. The bipartisan bill would provide farmers and independent mechanics with all of the repair materials they need to fix modern tractors.

CoPIRG and a wide swath of in-state agriculture organizations — including the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, Corn Growers, Wheat Growers, Wool Producers, Fruit and Vegetable Producers, and the Cattlemen — all support the measure to provide farmers needed repair relief.

Read CoPIRG Director Danny Katz’s statement on the committee passage.

PIRG has demonstrated how modern agricultural equipment is designed to lock out independent repair, forcing farmers to turn to their dealerships for many fixes. Farmers continue to face long delays and high repair costs despite John Deere’s recent ‘pinky swear’ to provide farmers with repair materials.

Colorado has been a leader on repair issues, becoming the first state in the nation to pass a wheelchair Right to Repair law last June. HB 1101, which is led by prime sponsors Brianna Titone (D-Arvada), Rep. Ron Weinberg (R-Fort Collins) and Sen. Nick Hinrichsen (D-Pueblo), now moves to the Colorado House floor for a vote.