Digital Right to Repair 2025–2026: The New Rules of the Game for Tech Repair Pros
Colorado's New Law: A Glimpse of the Future
Starting January 1, 2026, Colorado will set a new standard for digital right to repair. The state's new Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment law requires manufacturers to provide independent repair shops and consumers with the tools, parts, and documentation needed to fix smartphones, computers, smart appliances, and more.
This law doesn't just open up access—it also prohibits parts pairing to block independent repairs, bans false warnings about non-OEM parts, and requires transparency from shops about parts sourcing. It's the third major right to repair win in Colorado in three years, following laws for powered wheelchairs and agricultural equipment.
A Wave of State Action
Colorado isn't alone. States like New York, Minnesota, California, Oregon, Washington, and Texas have enacted digital right to repair laws. Many more—including Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Florida, Tennessee, Missouri, and New Hampshire—have active or pending bills for 2025–2026 (Repair Association updates).
These laws share a few key goals:
- Require manufacturers to provide parts, tools, and manuals
- Prevent software and digital locks from blocking fair repair
- Open up competition for repairs and parts
What This Means for Your Shop
For repair professionals, these changes are both a challenge and an opportunity:
- Access: More devices will be legally repairable, with fewer barriers to parts and diagnostics.
- Transparency: You'll need to clearly inform customers if you're using non-OEM or used parts.
- Accountability: The law prohibits misleading warnings about non-OEM parts and bans performance throttling after independent repairs.
Shops that stay ahead of these rules will be able to:
- Offer faster, more affordable repairs
- Build trust with customers through transparency
- Position themselves as local leaders in digital right to repair
Market Narrative: Why Big Tech Wants You to Upgrade
A recent CNBC story framed Americans holding onto devices longer as a problem for the economy. But the real problem is the power Big Tech wields to make it difficult, expensive, or even impossible to keep tech running.
Through software locks, parts pairing, and restricted repair info, manufacturers push for upgrades and limit your choices. Right to repair is about making it possible, affordable, and normal to keep devices as long as you want.
When the market narrative says "upgrading is good for business," it's time for repair pros to push back and show that longevity, not forced obsolescence, is the future.
How to Get Involved: Make Your Voice Heard Before the Legislative Season
Legislative sessions start in January in most states—it sneaks up fast after the holidays! Now is the time to organize and take action. Here's how you can make a difference:
Action Steps for Repair Professionals
- Find your state legislators: Use this directory to identify your representatives: State Legislature Websites
- Contact them now: Send a short, direct message or email explaining why right to repair matters to you and your business. Tell your story—real-world examples carry weight.
- Take it a step further: Schedule a meeting with your legislator. Remember: THEY WORK FOR YOU. Legislators are often more receptive than you might think, especially when you're polite, prepared, and specific.
- Organize locally: Connect with other repair professionals in your state. A united voice is far more powerful—consider forming or joining a local coalition.
- Share your stories: Lawmakers need to hear from real repair pros about what works—and what still needs fixing. Your experience matters.
- Follow and support advocacy organizations: Groups like United We Repair and Repair.org are leading the way. Donating to Repair.org is worthwhile—they're a key player in the national movement, though they don't often work with groups outside their established network.
What You Can Do Now
- Get familiar with your state's laws and what's coming next.
- Educate your customers. Explain new rights, anti-parts-pairing protections, and why transparency matters.
- Join coalitions like United We Repair. The more we work together, the more we can accomplish.
The Bottom Line
Digital right to repair is rewriting the rules. Shops that embrace change, educate their customers, and lead on transparency will not just survive—they'll thrive.
The next era of tech repair belongs to the professionals who fight for the right to keep devices running, not just for today, but for as long as people choose to own them.
Stay tuned for more in this series as we break down the details, answer your questions, and help you prepare for what's next.
Sample Email Templates for State Legislators
Template 1: Stressing the Need for Right to Repair
Subject: Support Right to Repair Legislation in [Your State]
Dear [Legislator's Name],
As a local tech repair professional and small business owner in your district, I urge you to support strong right to repair legislation in our state. Every day, I help families and small businesses keep their devices running, but Big Tech manufacturers make this work harder and more expensive than it needs to be by restricting access to parts, tools, and repair information.
Right to repair laws would let us provide faster, more affordable service, keep more money in the local economy, and reduce e-waste. Please support policies that give independent repair shops and consumers the freedom to fix what they own.
Thank you for your service,
[Your Name]
[Your Business or Organization]
[Your Town/City]
Template 2: Requesting a Meeting to Discuss Right to Repair
Subject: Meeting Request: How Right to Repair Will Help Our Local Economy
Dear [Legislator's Name],
I'm a tech repair professional and small business owner in your district. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you—virtually or in person—to discuss the importance of right to repair legislation for our community.
Allowing independent repair shops access to parts, tools, and documentation will:
- Make technology more affordable for families and small businesses
- Keep money circulating locally
- Reduce electronic waste
- Support job growth and entrepreneurship
I believe right to repair is a win for both consumers and the local economy. Please let me know when you might have time to connect. I'm happy to work around your schedule.
Thank you for your consideration,
[Your Name]
[Your Business or Organization]
[Your Town/City]
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