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.”
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.
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