Broken phone? Laptop? You can now get them fixed anywhere, thanks to new California law
Don’t throw away that broken iPhone! Californians will soon have easier access to the tools and services needed to fix their electronic devices.
Starting July 1, Senate Bill 244 will require electronic and appliance manufacturers to supply parts, tools and service literature to both product owners and independent repair shops.
The bill was authored by Sen. Susan Eggman, D-Stockton, and sponsored by CALPIRG, Californians Against Waste and iFixit.
Here’s how it works:
What inspired new California law?
Eggman introduced Senate Bill 244 — also known as California’s Right to Repair Act — to equip consumers and independent repair businesses with the necessary tools, parts and information to make repairs more accessible.
“Missing even one of these components can make repair more challenging, less safe, and less reliable,” Eggman’s office wrote in an October statement.
Tech giant Apple originally opposed the legislation.
However, the company reversed its decision and announced its support for the law in August after Colorado, Minnesota and New York passed similar laws, The Sacramento Bee reported at the time.
Which electronics does Right to Repair Act cover?
Senate Bill 244 broadly covers electronic products and appliances, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, cellphones and various home appliances.
Products that cost $50 to $99.99 are covered for at least three years after they were last manufactured, while products priced at $100 or more are covered for at least seven years.
That’s regardless of warranty periods.
The products must be manufactured for the first time and sold or used in California on or after July 1, 2021.
Which products are exempt from the law?
The law does not cover equipment used in the agricultural, forestry, industrial and construction industries.
It also limits repairs on video game consoles and alarm systems, including fire alarms.
What rights do manufacturers have?
California’s Right to Repair Act protects manufacturers from divulging trade secrets, licensing intellectual property or distributing source codes.
Manufacturers are not required to supply tools, parts or information that would disable anti-theft measures set by the products’ owners without their permission.
The law also protects manufacturers from liability for damage or injury caused by a repair, diagnosis, maintenance or modification.
What are the penalties for violating the law?
Violators could be liable for civil penalties and charged up to $5,000 per day, according to AB 244.
This story was originally published June 29, 2024 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Broken phone? Laptop? You can now get them fixed anywhere, thanks to new California law."
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the California State Assembly, not the California State Senate, as the house of the California State Legislature that originated Senate Bill 244. The error has been corrected.