The Washington House and Senate are sending two Right to Repair bills to the governor, one for electronic devices and home appliances and another for wheelchairs.
Washington is expected to become the eighth state in the country to pass Right to Repair legislation, pending the signature of Gov Bob Ferguson. Two bills, if signed into law, would establish requirements for manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and information for repairing consumer electronic devices—such as laptops, cellphones, and home appliances—and wheelchairs.
The Washington Senate approved the Right to Repair for consumer electronics and appliances (HB 1483) by a bipartisan vote of 48-1 on April 10, following a similar near-unanimous vote through the House on March 4. The Right to Repair bill for wheelchairs and mobility devices (SB 5680) also passed both chambers with unanimous votes. Next, Gov Ferguson has 20 days to sign the bills into law once they are delivered to his desk.
If enacted, the legislation would require manufacturers to make available the materials needed to repair certain electronic products, reducing reliance on authorized service providers. Washington would also join Oregon and Colorado in restricting the use of “parts pairing,” a practice where manufacturers use software to prevent technicians from fully installing spare parts.
“The Right to Repair Act is about fairness, affordability, and putting power back into the hands of everyday Washingtonians,” says state Rep Mia Gregerson, chief sponsor of HB 1483, in a release. “Whether it’s a smartphone or a household device, people deserve access to the tools, parts, and information needed to repair devices they’ve already paid for.”
Support for HB 1483 and SB 5680
The vote for HB 1483 comes after support for the Right to Repair from the public, businesses, and organizations. Last summer, WashPIRG ran a door-to-door canvassing campaign to support Right to Repair, collecting more than 1,400 petition signatures in favor of the legislation. The consumer electronics bill was supported by 60 local repair shops from across Washington; a range of consumer, environmental, and other advocates; and manufacturers, including Google and Microsoft.
The wheelchair repair bill, SB 5680, was backed by organizations including Disability Rights Washington and Here and Now Project. Limited access to repair materials has sometimes led to extended service delays, creating challenges for users that can affect mobility, health, and quality of life, according to a release from PIRG.
“If something goes wrong with your wheelchair, you should be able to fix it yourself or take it to a small business to get it fixed,” says state Sen Drew Hansen, the chief sponsor of SB 5680, in a release. “This bill is long overdue; we want people with wheelchairs to have choices for how to repair their equipment.”
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