Fair Repair Act

The Fair Repair Act aims to expand the "right to repair" by requiring original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of digital electronic equipment to make critical repair resources available to the public. If enacted, companies would be required to provide diagnostic software, repair manuals, and replacement parts to both individual consumers and independent repair businesses on fair and reasonable terms. This would allow owners of devices like smartphones, laptops, and farm equipment to fix their own property or choose a third-party repair shop rather than being forced to use the manufacturer's authorized service providers.

Beyond providing physical parts and manuals, the bill proposes to prohibit manufacturers from using software locks or "parts pairing"—a practice where a device's software prevents it from functioning if a non-authorized replacement part is installed. By removing these digital and legal barriers, the legislation seeks to lower repair costs for households, extend the lifespan of electronic products, and reduce the amount of electronic waste sent to landfills. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would be tasked with enforcing these requirements and could penalize manufacturers that fail to comply.