Fair Repair Act

This bill mandates that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of digital electronic equipment provide independent repair providers and equipment owners with access to necessary documentation, parts, and tools for diagnosis, maintenance, and repair. This access must be offered on fair and reasonable terms , equivalent to those provided to authorized repair providers, and without imposing unreasonable obligations or restrictions. Furthermore, the legislation explicitly prohibits OEMs from using mechanisms such as "parts pairing" to prevent the installation or full functionality of replacement parts, including those not approved by the manufacturer. It also forbids creating misleading alerts about parts, charging additional fees for future repairs, or limiting who can purchase parts or perform services. The bill outlines several exclusions, specifying that its provisions do not apply to manufacturers of motor vehicles, medical devices, off-road vehicles, or safety communications equipment. However, for covered equipment, OEMs must provide documentation and tools to disable and reset security locks for repair purposes, while also protecting legitimate trade secrets. To protect OEMs, the bill states they are not liable for any damage, injury, data loss, or privacy breaches resulting from repairs performed by independent providers or owners. OEMs are also not required to warrant repairs conducted by these parties. Enforcement of the Act falls primarily to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) , treating violations as unfair or deceptive acts and allowing the FTC to issue regulations. Additionally, State Attorneys General are authorized to bring civil actions to enforce compliance, seek penalties, and obtain damages, provided they notify the FTC. The Act takes effect 60 days after enactment, applying to relevant equipment sold or in use thereafter.