On June 10, 2021, Colorado’s governor, Jared Polis, signed Senate Bill 21-122 into law, making Colorado the first state in the nation to establish an enforceable right-to-repair law for farmers and agricultural producers. This is a historic victory for Colorado farmers, and for the right-to-repair movement, which has been fighting for similar laws in all fifty states for years.
Under the new law, all manufacturers must provide diagnostic tools and technical instructions for repairing, maintaining and modifying the digital electronic equipment essential to modern, efficient farming operations. This includes things like software, hardware, telematics, and other electronic systems necessary for farm management and production. Manufacturers also must make available to farmers, as well as independent service providers, all service parts relevant to the agricultural equipment they produce.
The new Colorado law establishes a framework for farmers and agricultural producers to defend their right to carry out basic repairs and preventive maintenance on their own equipment. It also provides an alternative to what was previously an expensive and cumbersome process of dealing with manufacturers and third-party suppliers. By providing access to the necessary parts and repair information, the law empowers farmers to carry out maintenance, repairs and modifications to their equipment.
In addition, the law prevents agricultural equipment manufacturers from using software locks and other digital restrictions to limit the options for repair and maintenance. By requiring transparency in how digital systems are managed and modifications are made, it prevents manufacturers from creating obstacles that limit farmers’ ability to keep their equipment running efficiently and cost-effectively.
The Colorado right-to-repair law affirms the commitment that farmers have to their land and their livelihoods, and to the environment. By allowing farmers to make timely repairs to their own equipment without going through a third-party service provider, it not only saves farmers money but it also helps protect the ecology of their farms. Moreover, by giving farmers more control over the management of their operations, it bolsters local economies across the state.
The right-to-repair principle has been gaining momentum in recent years as an important public policy issue. With the passage of this law in Colorado, advocates of the right-to-repair movement are hopeful that farmers in other states will soon have similar rights. This is an exciting time for farmers across the nation, as the right-to-repair law in Colorado is the first of many sure to come.
