Right to Repair 2026: Complete Advocacy Guide for Tech Repair Pros

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Right to Repair in 2026: Action Guide for Tech Repair Pros | Tech Care Association

Right to Repair in 2026: Action Guide for Tech Repair Professionals

The right to repair isn't just a movement anymore—it's the new reality for tech care professionals. After years of battling for basic access, 2025 marked the leap to Right to Repair 2.0. Now, we're not just talking about getting parts and manuals—we're fighting for real, enforceable protections against things like software locks and parts pairing that quietly threaten our industry's future.

Why 2026 Is a Turning Point

New laws are kicking in. Legislative momentum is building. Manufacturers are watching our every move. States that act in 2026 will set the tone for device design, calibration access, and repair policies across the country. This is the year to get loud, get organized, and make sure tech repair professionals are leading—not following—the conversation.

Related: Digital Right to Repair 2026: The New Rules of the Game for Tech Repair Pros

What's Changed: From Access to Enforcement

States like Oregon and Colorado didn't just talk—they passed laws that explicitly ban parts pairing. The EU's new Right to Repair directive, launching in 2026, weaves repair into both consumer protection and climate action. We're moving from symbolic gestures to rules with teeth.

These shifts represent a fundamental transformation in how we approach independent repair. The question is no longer whether repair should be protected—but how it works, who gets to do it, and who benefits.

See also: Big Tech Decides When Your Stuff Breaks. Right to Repair in 2026 Can Stop Them

Where the U.S. Stands Now

States with real digital right-to-repair laws: New York, Minnesota, California, Oregon, Colorado, Washington, and Texas. More states are on deck for 2026, with legislative sessions starting across the country.

🎯 Virginia and Maryland: Priority Targets

Both states start their legislative sessions on January 14, 2026.

Virginia already has a digital right-to-repair bill on record and strong repair momentum. Maryland lawmakers have demonstrated interest in repair as both consumer protection and climate policy. These are critical battlegrounds where tech repair professionals can make an immediate impact.

Action Plan: What Tech Repair Pros Should Do Now

  • Get organized locally. Build relationships with your legislators before sessions start. Don't wait for a crisis—be the expert they trust.
  • Document your pain points. Collect stories, photos, and invoices showing how parts pairing, software locks, and manufacturer restrictions impact your business and customers. Real-world evidence is gold.
  • Prepare to testify. Your voice matters. Use clear, specific examples of how these barriers cost you time, revenue, and reputation. Lawmakers need to hear from YOU, not just lobbyists.
  • Team up. Align with consumer, environmental, and workforce groups. We're stronger together, and united voices get noticed.
  • Educate your customers. Be transparent about what's blocking repairs and how policy can fix it. Use your storefront, social media, and receipts to share the message.

Further reading: Digital Right to Repair: Why You Deserve Control Over Your Devices

🔍 Find Your State Representatives

Building relationships with your state lawmakers is a game-changer for your shop and the right to repair movement. Use these trusted resources to find your legislators and their contact information.

Official Legislator Lookup Tools:

🔗 Common Cause: Find Your Legislators

Simple address lookup for state and federal representatives

🔗 Open States: Find Your Legislator

Comprehensive state legislative information and contact details

🔗 USA.gov: Elected Officials Directory

Official government directory for all elected representatives

💡 Pro Tip: You can also search "[your state] find my legislator" to access your state's official legislative website, which will have the most current contact information.

Connect with Your State Representatives

Sample Message to Request a Meeting

Email Template:

Subject: Request for Meeting: Local Tech Repair Shop & Right to Repair

Hi [Representative Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I own [Your Shop Name] in [Your Town]. As a local small business owner, I'm reaching out to discuss the impact of right to repair legislation on our community and local economy.

I'd appreciate the opportunity to meet with you (in person or virtually) to share how recent and upcoming laws affect both our business and our customers. I can provide real-world examples and answer any questions you may have about the tech repair industry in [Your District].

Please let me know your availability in the coming weeks. Thank you for your time and for representing our community!

Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Shop Name]
[Contact Info]

💡 Outreach Tips:

  • Be concise, respectful, and direct
  • Mention you're a constituent and local business owner
  • Offer specific dates/times if possible
  • Follow up if you don't get a response within a week

Get the Word Out: Contacting Local Media

Don't underestimate the power of local media to amplify your story and put the spotlight on the challenges—and importance—of independent repair. Media coverage not only boosts your shop's visibility but also helps educate the community and pressure policymakers to act.

Who to Contact:

  • Local newspapers (editors, business reporters, community desk)
  • TV news stations (assignment editors, consumer reporters)
  • Radio stations (morning show hosts, news directors)
  • Community blogs or online news outlets
  • Local business journals

Sample Email to Local Media

Email Template:

Subject: Local Tech Repair Shop Champions Right to Repair in 2026

Hi [Name],

I'm [Your Name], owner of [Your Shop Name] here in [Your Town]. As a local tech repair professional, I'm on the front lines of the right to repair movement—a cause that's gaining real momentum in 2026 with new laws and growing community support.

Our shop has seen firsthand how software locks, parts pairing, and manufacturer restrictions impact local families, small businesses, and the environment. I'd love to share our story and help your audience understand why protecting the right to repair matters for everyone in [Your Town].

Would you be interested in covering how these changes affect our community, or speaking with me for a local perspective? I can provide real-world examples and connect you with customers who've been impacted.

Thanks for your time—looking forward to connecting!

Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Shop Name]
[Contact Info]

💡 Pro Tips:

  • Personalize your email—mention a recent story they ran or why their audience will care
  • Include a photo of your shop/team if possible
  • Offer to demonstrate a repair or show how policy changes impact real customers

What Success Looks Like in 2026

📜

More State Right to Repair Laws

Laws tackling software locks and anti-repair tactics

⚖️

Clearer Manufacturer Rules

Enforceable expectations for device makers

🔓

Fewer Repair Barriers

Reduced warning pop-ups and feature lockouts

💪

Industry Confidence

Investment in new skills, tools, and staff

🤝

United Tech Repair

A respected, organized industry coalition

TCA's Take: Repair Is Infrastructure—And So Are You

Repair keeps devices working, money in local economies, and e-waste out of landfills. In 2026, we're not asking if repair should be protected—we're deciding how it works, who gets to do it, and who benefits. That means showing up, speaking out, and supporting each other.

Every Voice Counts

Every shop, every tech, every customer story counts. The future of repair is being written right now—by people who care enough to act. Let's make sure it's our story that gets told.

Ready to Take Action?

Join the movement and make your voice heard in 2026

Join TCA's Advocacy Network Share Your Story Subscribe for Updates

Repair first. Repair local. Repair together.

Have feedback or a story to share? Drop us a line or join the conversation on LinkedIn or Facebook.

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Digital Right to Repair 2026: The New Rules of the Game for Tech Repair Pros

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Digital Right to Repair 2026: New Rules for Tech Repair Pros

Digital Right to Repair 2025–2026: The New Rules of the Game for Tech Repair Pros

The rules of the tech repair industry are changing fast—and for once, they're starting to change in favor of the people who actually keep devices running: you.

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.

"The more competition you have, the more likely it is that you're going to save money. If there's only one choice, that entity can charge you more." — Danny Katz, CoPIRG (Colorado Public Interest Research Group)

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

Template 2: Requesting a Meeting to Discuss Right to Repair

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