/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/23488982/sean_hollister_20220510_125041.jpg "Oregon is about to sign — or veto — the strongest right-to-repair law yet")
Oregon Passes Landmark Right-to-Repair Law
Today, SB 1596 has been passed by the Oregon legislature, making it the first state to ban “parts pairing.” This practice, where companies restrict the use of components unless their software approves of them, is now prohibited in Oregon.
Similar to California’s right-to-repair law, the Oregon bill requires companies to provide the same parts, tools, and repair documents to consumers as they do to authorized repair shops, without any additional charges. However, unlike California’s seven-year mandate, Oregon does not specify a time frame for availability of these items, leaving it up to the companies’ discretion.
While the law does not cover devices sold before July 1st, 2021, it extends to all other gadgets back to July 1st, 2015. Additionally, the ban on parts pairing will only apply to consumer electronics manufactured after January 1st, 2025.
iFixit CEO Kyle Weins praised Oregon for passing this law, calling it the strongest electronics Right to Repair bill to date. He emphasized the importance of this legislation in ensuring consumers have the right to repair their own devices.
