Briggs King Introduces a bill that doesn’t involve fucking over poor/brown people
This “right to repair” bill is out of character in that it doesn’t try to cut taxes for the obscenely wealthy or indulge in some sort of MAGAt grandstanding.
A bill that would limit manufacturer control over repairing phones and other electronics was introduced Jan. 5 and awaits action in committee.
Sponsored by Rep. Ruth Briggs King, R-Georgetown, House Bill 41 is similar to the Digital Right to Repair Act introduced last session; it died after inaction by the full House. The new act wo
uld allow third-party repair shops to work on electronics that have been under proprietary control by the manufacturer, said Briggs King.
“This is especially true when the manufacturer withholds access to digital replacement components and the ability to interface with software or firmware needed to operate the device,” she said. “When consumers and third-party repair shops can’t get what they need to service privately owned products, it puts too much power into the hands of manufacturers, allowing them to force obsolescence and eliminate repair as an alternative to replacement.”
HB 41 would apply to any product embedded or attached with digital electronics, and would require fair and reasonable terms for obtaining a part or tool to repair it.
Under the bill, violators could be fined up to $10,000 per violation, and the state attorney general could take action against any company found in violation of the act through injunctions or lawsuits.
The bill specifically excludes farm, marine, lawn and garden, and off-road equipment as well as construction equipment, generators, batteries, fuel cells and internal combustion engines.
This is a big deal in farm states. John Deere has a stranglehold on farmers who own their large farm equipment and are forced to use only factory authorized repairs an exorbitant prices. Common ground with red state or red county farmers in our case, is a very small ray of light in our dark divided political landscape.
John Deere is mentioned in the article. But why this, then?
“The bill specifically excludes farm, marine, lawn and garden, and off-road equipment”
“HB 41 would apply to any product embedded or attached with digital electronics….The bill specifically excludes farm, marine, lawn and garden, and […] internal combustion engines???.”
I’ve always fixed my own ICE lawnmower, and it may outlive me. But I was careful to choose a mower with a widely available Briggs and Stratton engine so parts would be easy to find. I suppose for electric mowers going forward, they are itching to make them non-repairable.
I misread, sorry.
Also…Let the word go out to a new generation of Republican shitheads that when you do provide some actual benefit to society you will be covered lovingly and tenderly in this Delaware’s most liberal of liberal blogs.
Plastic Free Delaware (aka Zero Waste First State) (www.PlasticFreeDelaware.org) stongly supports this bill as electronic waste is a huge component of our waste stream. Being able to extend the life of electronics is essential to reducing waste and a “disposable” mindset (consumers often have no choice as manufacturers purposefully plan on obsolescence – an approach we need to move away from as it is expensive for consumers and a waste of resources).
https://pirg.org/campaigns/right-to-repair
mr. speaker, bring this bill to the floor. It is a common sense measure. The only thing I do not understand is why it (or its equivalent) was not written by Democrats, who have a platform that supports this measure. To ignore it is digraceful.