Texas Right To Repair Bill Passes (theverge.com) 36
Texas is poised to become the first state with a Republican-controlled government to pass a right to repair law, as its Senate unanimously approved HB 2963. The bill requires manufacturers to provide parts, manuals, and tools for equipment sold or used in the state. The Verge reports: A press release from the United States Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), which has pushed for repairability laws nationwide, noted that this would make Texas the ninth state with a right to repair rule, and the seventh with a version that includes consumer electronics. It follows New York, Colorado, Minnesota, California, Oregon, Maine, and most recently, Washington [...]. "More repair means less waste. Texas produces some 621,000 tons of electronic waste per year, which creates an expensive and toxic mess. Now, thanks to this bipartisan win, Texans can fix that," said Environment Texas executive director Luke Metzger.
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Ouch! That's a wheely hot take.
Re:Question (Score:5, Informative)
He doesn't have to. Even if he doesn't sign it, in 20 days it becomes law. If he vetoes it, however, that's another story. The Texas Legislature can only override his veto within the same legislative session, which ends today.
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What previous right to repair bills? I'm not finding any such previous bills.
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If the TX governor calls a special session then Legislature can also override. This technique has been used in the past: 1. pass a bill the governor will veto but 2. fail to pass something that the governor really wants. Governor calls special session. Wait for governor to issue veto on the first bill. Then override veto and then pass the second bill that the governor really wanted. It forces a "if you want yours, you have to allow ours" situation.
Absolutely! (Score:2)
We need to get rid of all the e-waste being generated by disposable carts. Nics. Lithium cells with USB ports are being thrown away DAILY/HOURLY
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You think allowing people to fix their electronics means they won't be tossing their old batteries? What do you think they are going to do with them?
Good news for once! (Score:2)
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I think the only people that actually like non-repairable devices are the corporations.
Many different reasons, sane and or not to hate it from the pollution, to this being some sort of scam, to the whole "you will own nothing and you will like it", to people basically weaponizing it as "the other side loves it!".
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I think the only people that actually like non-repairable devices are the corporations.
I hope that true but I don't think it is. A big segment of the consumer market, just isn't very forward thinking. They don't have that old yankee ethic, and that isn't surprising corporate America and our keeping up with the Jones society has has been trying to beat that out of people/families for three generations.
A lot stuff isn't repairable because it cheaply done. Its faster an cheaper to glue stuff together than put it together with replaceable fasteners. If it needs to be somewhat water tight once
Re: Good news for once! (Score:2)
Louis Rossmann is now living in Texas.
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Yup yup!! I can't wait to hear what he says about this and get his take on this bill and whether or not if it has any teeth in its implementation.
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Until you look at what the bill covers, and what it excludes
Who gets to enforce it? (Score:5, Interesting)
I skimmed the bill and it looks like only the Texas Attorney General gets to enforce it, which means consumers are at the AG's mercy.
I hope I'm wrong.
Also, it seems to exclude low-cost items (under $50), gaming consoles, large appliances and microwave ovens, and most things whose target market is not your average consumer. It also excludes non-home-use and prescription medical devices as well as some other things.
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And yes, it looks like only the AG has purview.
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The right to repair a very small list of items. Woooo!
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You don't have to imagine anything. You can just read the text of the bill.
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If it is up to Att. Gen. Ken Paxton, then it doesn't matter whether Texas has the bill or not. He's for sale to the highest bidder. Texas, or as it is more politely called, Hell, is no place for people or animals.
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Naw. It will be someone else. Ken Paxton is about to take John Cornyn's place as Senator.
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Cars, trucks & tractors? Nope. (Score:2)
Why stop at just picking on Silicon Valley, and by extension California's produce.
What about the car & tractor manufacturers?
The dealership lock in that's been steadily evolving over the years, as technology has become more prevalent in vehicles, needs reining in.
Too hot for the politicians to touch I think. Easier to stick it to a Democratic state than the likes of John Deere.
You're going to get e-waste regardlessly, thats just the nature of consumer computing technology and smart phones as they rapidl
love this! (Score:1)
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It's a good thing that even these insane people can see that not being able to repair your devices is absolute bullshit.
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Louis Rossman IS THE MAN (Score:3)
To provide parts seems extreme (Score:1)
so does that mean voters in Texas (Score:1)
Are Republicans changing their minds about DMCA? (Score:2)
There's little point in this, if manufacturers can obey this law and yet still have maintenance remain illegal due to federal law.
Can I take this as a sign that a major party is rethinking their up-to-now support for DMCA?
after a brief review (Score:2)
It apparently is restricted to computers (desktops. laptops, cellphones),
AN ACT relating to diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of certain digital electronic equipment.