READY, FIRE, AIM: Right to Repair

Something cool that I didn’t know about. Colorado is a leader in the national ‘Right to Repair’ movement.

Back in May 2024, Governor Jared Polis signed House Bill 24-1121 into law, giving me — and everyone in Colorado, I suppose — the right to repair certain electronic devices.  The law went into effect on January 1, 2026.

I somehow thought I had the right to repair my stuff already. But apparently not. Turns out manufacturers have been finding clever ways to deny us the right to fix our electronics when they break, by refusing to provide parts and repair information. Or by withholding permission.

I didn’t notice this, because when something stops working, I normally just throw it away.

But now it’s a law in Colorado that I can fix my stuff.

Not everything, mind you, but at least certain electronics.

Which is not to say that I know how to repair anything. I’m just a journalist. So maybe it’s the thought that counts.

From the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) website:

On Tuesday, May 28, Gov. Jared Polis signed Colorado’s third Right to Repair law in three years — cementing Colorado’s leadership on consumers’ repair rights. Building upon successful efforts in Minnesota, California and Oregon over the last year, the new Colorado law covers nearly all consumer and business electronics.

“This action makes Colorado the ‘Right to Repair State’ – we will be able to fix more of our stuff than people in any other state. Everything breaks at some point, and when it does, we should have the freedom to fix it,” commented CoPIRG Executive Director Danny Katz at the signing.

Colorado’s new bill starts with the premise that it applies to all consumer electronic devices — anything with a microchip first sold after July 1, 2021. Beginning with that premise, the legislation covers:

• Personal electronics like cell phones and laptops
• Printers
• Appliances
• HVAC systems
• Servers, routers and other IT equipment, including enterprise equipment
• e-Bikes
• Music and sound equipment

But ‘premises’ aren’t what they used to be.

HB24-1121 included a list of exemptions.

Everything with embedded electronics is covered, except:

• Motor vehicles
• Construction or road-building equipment
• Electric vehicle, renewable energy equipment and power-generation equipment
• Boats
• Emergency radios
• Fire alarm and certain security alarm system components
• Medical equipment
• Video game consoles
• Cable boxes

Do we notice any slightly important items in this list of exemptions? Stuff we don’t have the right to repair in Colorado?

I would, for example, like to be able to repair the electronics in mu “Motor vehicle”.  Is there some kind of compelling reason why I’m not allowed to do that?

And my emergency radio?  And especially, my video game console?

Are our legislators out of their minds?

Of course, I know very well that this law is not aimed at people like me, who don’t actually know how to repair anything.  I struggle to replace my shoe laces.

Obviously, this law is aimed at businesses who run repair services and actually know how to fix stuff. They now have the right to order the replacement parts for my phone, and the instructions for making the repair.

So what’s the problem with them repairing my car? Which is much more important to me than my phone, when it really comes down to it. If my phone can’t be fixed, it’s not too expensive to replace it.  But it is not cheap to replace my car.

If I was the kind of person who wrote letters to my legislators, I would complain about this.

Maybe I should send them a link to this humor column? Assuming they appreciate humor.  Intelligent humor.

Something that I would really appreciate the right to repair: my relationship with my kids.  The law doesn’t mention that right, either.  Not my car, and not my kids.

Now that you mention it, the law doesn’t even mention shoe laces.