Oregon Enacts Right to Repair Law

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed Senate Bill 1596 into law on Tuesday, making Oregon the latest state to embrace a right to repair for citizens, joining the likes of California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, and Minnesota. The law will come into effect on January 1.

The bill's coauthors Janeen Sollman and Representative Courtney Neron drew inspiration from California's Senate Bill 244, which was passed in late 2023. However, they included a key provision that caused division among industry representatives. Apple, in particular, raised concerns about the prohibition of parts pairing, a practice that involves using proprietary components in the repair process.

Apple, which had previously shown support for the California bill through an open letter, has expressed some reservations about Oregon's bill due to this provision.

“Apple agrees with the majority of Senate Bill 1596,” said John Perry, Apple's senior manager of Secure System Design, during testimony to state lawmakers in February. “I have had several meetings with Senator Sollman and appreciate her willingness to engage in an open dialogue. Senate Bill 1596 is a positive step towards ensuring that the people of Oregon, myself included, can have their devices repaired conveniently and at a reasonable cost."

Apple has raised security concerns about the use of unauthorized parts in the repair process, especially with regards to biometric components like fingerprint scanners. Sollman expressed frustration over the difficulties in working with Apple to address these concerns when crafting the bill.

Google expressed its support for the bill in January, calling it “a compelling model for other states to follow.” Repair groups have also praised the legislation.

“The Right to Repair will make it easier for Oregonians to maintain their personal electronics by removing manufacturer restrictions, which will help conserve natural resources and reduce waste,” said OSPIRG (Oregon State Public Interest Research Group) director Charlie Fisher in a statement following the news. “It offers a more sustainable alternative to our current disposable system."

Apple declined to provide a comment on the matter.