Right to Repair gets major endorsements in Los Angeles

Support is pouring in around California for a pending Right to Repair bill, which would allow Californians to access the parts, tools and information needed to fix their electronics. 

On May 3, the Los Angeles Times editorial board called for lawmakers to advance Senate Bill 244 (Sen. Eggman), which is currently pending in the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Sen. Anthony Portantino. Similar legislation has stalled before the same committee for the last two years. 

In addition to citing PIRG’s research on how much repair could save consumers, the editorial board noted “The time has come for California lawmakers (looking at you, Sen. Portantino) to stand in support of this important anti-waste effort.” 

This is the third time editorial writers at the LA Times have endorsed Right to Repair. Not only that, but tech columnist Brian Merchant called for progress in a May 12 column entitled “Californians deserve the right to repair their electronics — even if Big Tech hates it.” 

In addition to support from the Times, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) wrote a letter on May 11, calling for Sen. Portantino and the Senate Appropriations Committee to advance Right to Repair legislation. In their letter, LAUSD noted that it is “largest consumer of electronic devices for education in the state,” and that “it can be challenging to get the parts or information needed to fix” those devices. 

The Senate Appropriations Committee will hear, and potentially vote on, the pending legislation on May 18. Live in California? Tell your state legislators to support Right to Repair here.