Latest news with #MiaGregerson
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Washington consumers will gain ‘right to repair' cellphones and other electronics
Photo by Getty Images. Washington is joining a growing list of states trying to tear down barriers for consumers who want to repair their electronics rather than buy new ones. Gov. Bob Ferguson last week signed the state's new 'right to repair' policy into law. The goal of House Bill 1483 is to allow consumers to fix their devices instead of throwing them away and buying new ones. It was a yearslong effort to get the law approved. 'This is a win for every person in Washington state,' said the bill's prime sponsor, Rep. Mia Gregerson, D-SeaTac. 'We all know that we want to keep our devices longer. We want to be able to connect with our loved ones.' In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers with broken electronics don't have much choice but to replace them because repairs require specialized tools, unique parts and inaccessible proprietary software. And those restrictions, the FTC found, disproportionately burden communities of color and low-income communities. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues as access to technology quickly became increasingly vital. Apple has since made moves to improve the repairability of its products. Some companies engage in a practice called 'parts pairing' that can make replacing parts of a device impossible. Washington's new law would largely outlaw this tactic. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, the law will require manufacturers to make tools, parts and documentation needed for diagnostics and maintenance available to independent repair businesses. The requirement applies to digital electronics, like computers, cellphones and appliances, that were first sold in Washington after July 1, 2021. Manufacturers won't be able to use parts that inhibit repairs. The state attorney general's office could enforce violations of the new law under the Consumer Protection Act. Critics argued the bill could harm businesses' reputations if repairs aren't completed correctly, and potentially leave users' personal information unsecured. But some tech giants backed the legislation. Google, for example, thanked the governor for signing it. 'This is a significant win for consumers, and will provide them more affordable ways to repair their devices while reducing waste,' a spokesperson said in an email. Microsoft said its 'Surface PCs are among the most repairable in their class — and we view this law as a meaningful step toward reducing waste, empowering consumers, and advancing a more circular economy.' State lawmakers across the country have introduced similar legislation in recent years. Five states now have laws on the books: California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York and Oregon. Massachusetts and Maine have such laws focused on car repairs. Southwest Washington U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat, has led the charge in Congress for national right to repair laws focused on cars, electronics and military equipment. Before joining Congress, Gluesenkamp Perez co-owned an auto repair shop. Late last month, the U.S. Army, at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, announced it would seek 'right to repair' provisions in all of its contracts. Ferguson also signed a similar repair bill focused on wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Both measures had strong bipartisan support. This story was originally produced by the Washington State Standard which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Washington state consumers will gain ‘right to repair' cellphones and other electronics
(Photo by) Washington is joining a growing list of states trying to tear down barriers for consumers who want to repair their electronics rather than buy new ones. Gov. Bob Ferguson last week signed the state's new 'right to repair' policy into law. The goal of House Bill 1483 is to allow consumers to fix their devices instead of throwing them away and buying new ones. It was a yearslong effort to get the law approved. 'This is a win for every person in Washington state,' said the bill's prime sponsor, Rep. Mia Gregerson, D-SeaTac. 'We all know that we want to keep our devices longer. We want to be able to connect with our loved ones.' In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers with broken electronics don't have much choice but to replace them because repairs require specialized tools, unique parts and inaccessible proprietary software. And those restrictions, the FTC found, disproportionately burden communities of color and low-income communities. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues as access to technology quickly became increasingly vital. Apple has since made moves to improve the repairability of its products. Some companies engage in a practice called 'parts pairing' that can make replacing parts of a device impossible. Washington's new law would largely outlaw this tactic. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, the law will require manufacturers to make tools, parts and documentation needed for diagnostics and maintenance available to independent repair businesses. The requirement applies to digital electronics, like computers, cellphones and appliances, that were first sold in Washington after July 1, 2021. Manufacturers won't be able to use parts that inhibit repairs. The state attorney general's office could enforce violations of the new law under the Consumer Protection Act. Critics argued the bill could harm businesses' reputations if repairs aren't completed correctly, and potentially leave users' personal information unsecured. But some tech giants backed the legislation. Google, for example, thanked the governor for signing it. 'This is a significant win for consumers, and will provide them more affordable ways to repair their devices while reducing waste,' a spokesperson said in an email. Microsoft said its 'Surface PCs are among the most repairable in their class — and we view this law as a meaningful step toward reducing waste, empowering consumers, and advancing a more circular economy.' State lawmakers across the country have introduced similar legislation in recent years. Five states now have laws on the books: California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York and Oregon. Massachusetts and Maine have such laws focused on car repairs. Southwest Washington U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat, has led the charge in Congress for national right to repair laws focused on cars, electronics and military equipment. Before joining Congress, Gluesenkamp Perez co-owned an auto repair shop. Late last month, the U.S. Army, at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, announced it would seek 'right to repair' provisions in all of its contracts. Ferguson also signed a similar repair bill focused on wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Both measures had strong bipartisan support. Editor's note: North Carolina lawmakers have introduced different versions of 'right to repair' legislation in recent years, but the proposals have not gained traction. Two bills from the 2025 session — House Bill 460 and House Bill 938 — would expand the right for, respectively, medical equipment and digital electronics, but neither was heard in committee prior to the May 8 crossover deadline. This report was first published by the Washington State Standard, which like NC Newsline, is part of the national States Newsroom network.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WA consumers will gain ‘right to repair' cellphones and other electronics
(Photo by) Washington is joining a growing list of states trying to tear down barriers for consumers who want to repair their electronics rather than buy new ones. Gov. Bob Ferguson last week signed the state's new 'Right to Repair' policy into law. The goal of House Bill 1483 is to allow consumers to fix their devices instead of throwing them away and buying new ones. It was a yearslong effort to get the law approved. 'This is a win for every person in Washington state,' said the bill's prime sponsor, Rep. Mia Gregerson, D-SeaTac. 'We all know that we want to keep our devices longer. We want to be able to connect with our loved ones.' In 2021, the Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers with broken electronics don't have much choice but to replace them because repairs require specialized tools, unique parts and inaccessible proprietary software. And those restrictions, the FTC found, disproportionately burden communities of color and low-income communities. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these issues as access to technology quickly became increasingly vital. Apple has since made moves to improve the repairability of its products. Some companies engage in a practice called 'parts pairing' that can make replacing parts of a device impossible. Washington's new law would largely outlaw this tactic. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, the law will require manufacturers to make tools, parts and documentation needed for diagnostics and maintenance available to independent repair businesses. The requirement applies to digital electronics, like computers, cellphones and appliances, that were first sold in Washington after July 1, 2021. Manufacturers won't be able to use parts that inhibit repairs. The state attorney general's office could enforce violations of the new law under the Consumer Protection Act. Critics argued the bill could harm businesses' reputations if repairs aren't completed correctly, and potentially leave users' personal information unsecured. But some tech giants backed the legislation. Google, for example, thanked the governor for signing it. 'This is a significant win for consumers, and will provide them more affordable ways to repair their devices while reducing waste,' a spokesperson said in an email. Microsoft said its 'Surface PCs are among the most repairable in their class — and we view this law as a meaningful step toward reducing waste, empowering consumers, and advancing a more circular economy.' State lawmakers across the country have introduced similar legislation in recent years. Five states now have laws on the books: California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York and Oregon. Massachusetts and Maine have such laws focused on car repairs. Southwest Washington U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat, has led the charge in Congress for national Right to Repair laws focused on cars, electronics and military equipment. Before joining Congress, Gluesenkamp Perez co-owned an auto repair shop. Late last month, the U.S. Army, at the direction of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, announced it would seek 'Right to Repair' provisions in all of its contracts. Ferguson also signed a similar repair bill focused on wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Both measures had strong bipartisan support. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Geek Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
Washington governor signs right-to-repair law, giving consumers more control on fixing electronics
Washignton Gov. Bob Ferguson, joined by state Rep. Mia Gregerson, left, chief sponsor of HB 1483, in Olympia on Monday. (TVW via YouTube) Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed the Right to Repair Act into law on Monday, in a move aimed at making it easier for consumers and independent businesses to fix electronic devices. Washington is the sixth state to enact such a law, which calls for manufacturers of consumer electronics to provide the parts, repair tools and information required to fix products such as laptops, smartphones and home appliances. 'Consumers should be able to affordably repair their electronic products instead of being forced to buy new ones,' Ferguson said in acknowledging the multi-year effort to get the law passed. 'For Washingtonians, a right to repair their products will save them money and help reduce electronic waste.' Rep. Mia Gregerson, chief sponsor of HB 1483, called it a 'win for every person in Washington state' at a news conference alongside the governor and advocates for the legislation. 'We all know that we want to keep our devices longer,' she added, citing the cost to replace and e-waste that is hurting the planet. Under the law, consumers will be able to take their broken devices to the independent repair shop of their choice, or fix them themselves, instead of being locked into a manufacturer's repair service. The law also restricts parts pairing, a practice of using software that prevents technicians from fully installing spare parts, particularly those that aren't officially approved by OEMs, according to previous reporting by Waste Dive. iFixit, advocates for repairing anything and everything, called it 'the strongest law we've seen yet.' Washington just became the 6th state to pass an electronics Right to Repair law! A quarter of Americans are now covered by electronics repair laws. And they also passed a bill for powered wheelchairs! That's a double win for repair, and a big blow to manufacturer control.🧵 — iFixit (@iFixit) May 19, 2025 While some companies and trade groups have opposed such legislation as worrisome from a digital security and safety standpoint, Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft is among those that has changed its tune and supported right-to-repair. The company supported a similar bill in 2023 that failed to pass. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, and covers most electronic products and parts that were manufactured, sold or used in Washington on or after July 1, 2021. The law does not apply to video game consoles, motor vehicles, medical devices, or farm tractors. Washington's right-to-repair law follows action taken by Colorado, Oregon, New York, Minnesota, and California. Ferguson also signed SB 5680 on Monday, creating a right-to-repair program for powered wheelchairs and other mobility devices. The legislation follows similar laws signed in Colorado and California.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Right to wheelchair repair bill signed into law
People who use wheelchairs to get around Washington will soon have more options for repairing them. It's thanks to legislation signed into law Monday. Senate Bill 5680 will require wheelchair equipment manufacturers to provide owners and independent repair providers access to documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and tools. The new law will take effect July 27. '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,' Senator Drew Hansen (D-Bainbridge Island) said. He sponsored the bill. 'We want people with wheelchairs to have choices for how to repair their equipment.' A 2022 study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) found that repair times can sometimes take between four to seven weeks. Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-SeaTac) led the policy work on the bill and sponsored the bill's House version. 'People who rely on mobility equipment are the real experts on their devices. They deserve better access to the parts, tools, and information needed to keep their equipment working, so they can travel safely — whether it's to a doctor's appointment or to work,' Gregerson said. 'This community-driven legislation builds on the important work done in other states, and I'm incredibly proud to have partnered with Sen. Hansen on this measure. Washington state can now join the growing national movement for the right to repair.' The bill passed the House and the Senate unanimously. Colorado passed similar legislation in 2022.
