Victory! New York Senate Passes Landmark Right to Repair Bill
Today we moved the needle. A Right to Repair bill that would give everyone the information, parts, and tools they need to fix their electronic devices passed in the New York State Senate, the first such bill to pass in the country.
At a virtual session, the Senate approved S4104 by a margin of 51 to 12. Normally the next step would be a vote on an identical bill in the state’s Assembly. But Thursday is the last day of session for the NY legislature, and the bill has not yet escaped committee, making a vote by the full Assembly unlikely. The battle for fair repair in New York will continue into next year’s session, with a strong record of success.
But don’t get the wrong idea—this is big. This shows that Right to Repair has real support when the issue gets an actual vote, despite the efforts of tech manufacturers’ lobbyists.
“In passing this bill, the New York Senate proved they’re not afraid to stand up to powerful interests by fighting for the rights of all New Yorkers to fix, and truly own, their devices,” said Kerry Maeve Sheehan, U.S. policy lead for iFixit. “This is a major win for small repair businesses throughout the state, for the environment, for low income communities, and for everyone who just wants to be able to fix their stuff.”
