ronstik | stock.adobe.com
The Oregon Legislature has passed right-to-repair legislation, S.B. 1596, which was introduced in the Senate on Feb. 5 and passed Feb. 20 before being introduced to the House. The House passed the bill by a bipartisan vote of 42-13 and it now awaits Gov. Tina Kotek’s signature.
This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is the result of extensive conversations with small business, industry and consumer stakeholders, according to a news release issued by the office of Rep. Courtney Neron (D-Wilsonville), a chief sponsor of the legislation. The legislation will require manufacturing companies to make diagnostic tools, information and replacement parts available to consumers and third-party repair shops so Oregonians can more affordably fix phones, computers and appliances.
“As many Oregonians are struggling to make ends meet, this legislation is an opportunity to give people more choice on how to repair their devices, create pathways to saving consumers money and reduce the harmful environmental impacts of our increased reliance on technology and the waste we create when we cannot repair,” Neron says.
“Oregon's Right to Repair Act is about saving Oregonians money and supporting small business growth in Oregon. It provides positive environmental action by reducing e-waste, cutting pollution by manufacturing less waste and creating an after-market inventory of products to close the digital divide across our state,” says Sen. Janeen Sollman (D - Hillsboro), the chief sponsor of the bill in the Senate. “Oregonians deserve to have affordable and sustainable options for repairing their electronics instead of throwing them away or replacing them.”
“With this bill, Oregon will strengthen our tradition of respecting the capability of our people to take care of their own property and to ensure that it is kept in good repair for as long as possible without subjecting ourselves to artificial external controls,” Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem) adds. “We can and will maintain the quality and safety of our electronic gear with proper safeguards and standards.”
“As a tech industry leader, Oregon is no stranger to innovation,” says Charlie Fisher, Portland, Oregon-based OSPIRG state director. “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. 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 every day,” says Celeste Meiffren-Swango, state director of Environment Oregon. “The Oregon legislature is building on that legacy by passing the Right to Repair Act today, and we look forward to Gov. Kotek signing this important bill.”