Colorado passes ‘right to repair’ bill: First state in US to ensure farmers can legally fix their own equipment

The state of Colorado has recently passed a bipartisan bill known as the Consumer Right to Repair Agriculture Equipment Act. This historic legislation means that farmers in Colorado can legally repair their own equipment. The Senate of Colorado voted 46-14 in favour of the bill earlier this week.

This legislation is one of several Right to Repair bills across the United States; other states that have proposed bills include Texas and Florida.

Much of modern farming equipment depends on computer software and proprietary authorisation, meaning farmers are often prevented from repairing their own equipment quickly; the Right to Repair legislation now ensures timely repairs can be made on site, potentially saving farmers time and money.

According to state representative Brianna Titone, who sponsored the legislation, farmers who live far from the dealerships where they purchased equipment will benefit a great deal from this legislation. The availability of parts and tools for smaller companies means that farmers can save vital time, particularly during the busy harvest season.

Colorado was also the first state in the US to pass a Right to Repair Wheelchair Law in October 2020.

Despite John Deere publicly supporting customer efforts to repair their own products, the company expressed concerns about the new legislation.

State GOP representative Ron Weinberg and Democrat state senators Nick Hinrichsen and Janice Marchman, alongside Brianna Titone, worked on the bipartisan effort.

Although there was bipartisan sponsorship for the bill, Titone is still disappointed that many rural Republican representatives did not sign onto it, despite the fact that it is their farmer constituents who will be most affected.

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