Latest news with #RightToRepair
The Verge
2 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Texas Right to Repair bill passes, heads to the governor's desk
Texas moved closer to becoming the next state with a right to repair law on the books, as the state Senate unanimously voted 31 - 0 to finalize HB 2963 this weekend. It would require manufacturers to make spare parts, manuals, and necessary tools available for equipment sold or used in the country's second most populated state. As more states have passed right to repair laws, we've seen repair options and information becoming more widely available nationwide from companies like Apple and Samsung. If the bill is signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, that will add another significant market with these requirements in place. A press release from the United States Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), which has pushed for repairability laws nationwide, noted that this would make Texas the ninth state with a right to repair rule, and the seventh with a version that includes consumer electronics. It follows New York, Colorado, Minnesota, California, Oregon, Maine, and most recently, Washington, and would be the first state on the list with a Republican-controlled government. 'More repair means less waste. Texas produces some 621,000 tons of electronic waste per year, which creates an expensive and toxic mess. Now, thanks to this bipartisan win, Texans can fix that,' said Environment Texas executive director Luke Metzger.
CNET
28-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Apple Expands Official Self Service Repair Options to Include iPads
Having iPad trouble? With Apple's May 29 expansion of its Self Service Repair Store, you may be able to fix your device at home. Users will have the choice of taking their iPads into an Apple Store Genius Bar or attempting certain repairs by themselves -- with help from Apple's own resources. The Self Service Repair Store will now offer genuine iPad parts (including displays, batteries, cameras and charging ports), repair toolkits and the ability to arrange an Apple Diagnostics session, among other add-ons. This change also affects independent repair providers who were not previously able to legally repair iPads or offer parts to customers. The service expansion will apply to iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Pro (M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad (A16) models. This follows past expansions Apple has made to its self-repair program, begun in 2022, such as adding the MacBook Pro in 2023. At the time, we noted that this move may be in response to the Right to Repair movement, which has led to repair-oriented legislation in all 50 states. Whatever the reason, Apple has now expanded its own self-repair options to tablet owners. "At Apple, our goal is to create the world's greatest products that last as long as possible," Brian Naumann, Apple's vice president of AppleCare, said in a statement. "With today's announcement, we're excited to expand our repair services to more customers, enabling them to further extend the life of their products — all without compromising safety, security, or privacy." Apple also announced that its Self Service Repair options would be expanding into Canada this summer, making it the 34th country offering the program. A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
GSM Arena
28-05-2025
- Business
- GSM Arena
Apple adds some iPads to the Self Service Repair program
Before 2021, the only way to repair your iPhone was to visit Apple Authorized Service Providers and Independent Repair Providers that qualified. Apple then introduced the Self Service Repair program after growing pressure from different state and country laws, like the EU's Right to Repair Directive. The program expanded to MacBooks in 2023, and now iPads are next in line. Apple now provides access to repair manuals and spare parts like displays, batteries, cameras and charging ports. Self Service Repair support isn't available to all iPads, though. Apple lists only the iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Pro (M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad (A16) for now. With the new iPads, the Self Service Repair program now covers 65 devices and 33 countries. Canada will also be added to the program sometime this summer. Source
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
WA Gov. Ferguson signs Right to Repair bill into law
OLYMPIA, Wash. - Governor Bob Ferguson has signed a wide-ranging Right to Repair bill into law. Lawmakers hope to improve access to quicker and cheaper repairs for an array of digital and mobility devices. Big picture view The Right to Repair Act (HB 1483) will go into effect on July 26 after receiving broad bipartisan support in the legislature. At this point, several practices will be prohibited, such as "parts pairing" which has long limited customers into manufacturer-only repair options. Overall, consumers will now have fairer access to parts, tools and information needed to repair the digital devices often used on a daily basis, according to a statement from the Washington State House Democrats. What they're saying "This bill empowers everyday Washingtonians and small businesses while reducing waste," said Rep. Gregerson. "People deserve the right to fix their own devices without roadblocks." The Source Information for this story came from the Governor's Office and Washington State Democrats. Luxury Seattle hotel sues 'nuisance' building next door Firefighters in western WA train for possibility of 'above average' wildfire season Shawn Kemp lawyers claim bias in Tacoma Mall shooting case as trial nears Federal judge blocks Trump's dismantling of the Department of Education 'Where is Teekah?': Mother speaks out after Tacoma, WA cold case Activist marks 2 weeks in tree to protest logging near Port Angeles Driver arrested after deadly crash in Kent, WA To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
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.
