New Colorado law will make it easier to repair broken cell phones, gaming systems
Coloradans will quickly have a neater time fixing their damaged cell telephones, gaming techniques and different digital gadgets underneath a “right-to-repair” legislation signed by the governor Tuesday that places the state on the forefront nationally.
Beneath the brand new legislation, tech corporations like Apple and Amazon will probably be required to offer software program and bodily instruments to third-party restore outlets and to particular person shoppers to repair cracked cellphone screens and malfunctioning tools. The purpose, supporters say, is to make it simpler to repair damaged gear whereas lessening the necessity for substitute purchases and stopping repairable tools from ending up in landfills.
The legislation goes into impact Jan. 1, 2026.
“Cell telephones are part of our every day lives. We must always have extra selections on the best way to repair them after they break,” mentioned Rep. Brianna Titone, an Arvada Democrat who was one of many invoice sponsors, in a information launch after Gov. Jared Polis signed the laws into legislation. “This new legislation will give shoppers extra choices to repair their damaged electronics, saving them time and cash on pricey repairs.
The legislation would require that tech corporations present software program instruments totally free, although they’ll cost for bodily tools. The statute additionally prohibits corporations from programming their tools to solely work with sure elements, which limits third-party repairs.
With Polis’ signature, cell telephones and different private digital gear develop into the newest piece of know-how that may now extra simply be mounted by Colorado shoppers or impartial restore outlets, due to a gradual stream of “right-to-repair” laws handed in recent times. Advocates have praised the state as a nationwide chief in client repairs.
Final yr, lawmakers permitted a invoice requiring producers of tractors and different farm tools to offer info and instruments to farmers. The yr earlier than that, Polis signed a invoice making it simpler for individuals who use motorized wheelchairs to repair their tools themselves. Titone sponsored all of these payments.
The Colorado Public Curiosity Analysis Group, a client advocacy group, hailed the state’s current right-to-repair work, characterizing it as a nationwide chief.
“This motion makes Colorado the Proper to Restore state — we can repair extra of our stuff than individuals in another state,” CoPIRG government director Danny Katz mentioned in a information launch. “… Coloradan shoppers at the moment are empowered with extra choices on when, the place and the way we repair our stuff. Having these choices saves us money and time whereas lowering the quantity of waste that we produce.”
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