Colorado Approves Major Right-to-Repair Law

Colorado has enacted one of the most comprehensive right-to-repair laws in the United States, as Governor Jared Polis signed HB24-1121, the “Consumer Right to Repair Digital Electronic Equipment” bill, into law on Tuesday. This legislation mandates that manufacturers must provide consumers and independent electronics businesses with the necessary tools and information to repair their own devices.

Governor Polis emphasized that the law applies to a wide range of devices, including cellphones, dishwashers, washing machines, and laptops. This ensures that Coloradans can either fix their equipment themselves or seek assistance from their chosen repair provider.

This new law builds on Colorado’s previous right-to-repair regulations for agricultural equipment and powered wheelchairs, now extending similar protections to nearly all consumer electronic devices containing a chip. Colorado’s law mirrors Minnesota’s recent right-to-repair legislation by covering data center and business-to-business equipment, but it does not include Minnesota’s ambiguous exclusion for “critical infrastructure” equipment.

There are specific exclusions from the law, such as game consoles, due to piracy concerns raised by manufacturers, and other categories including medical devices, ATVs, and motor vehicles. These exclusions are similar to those found in right-to-repair laws in other states like California and New York.

No Parts Pairing Starting in 2026

Additionally, Colorado’s HB24-1121 explicitly bans the practice of “parts pairing,” — where manufacturers make replacement parts unusable without company software approval, a provision also found in Oregon’s right-to-repair legislation.

Manufacturers are required to comply with Colorado’s new rules by January 1, 2026, and the law applies to all electronics manufactured on or after July 1, 2021. This law represents a significant step forward in the right-to-repair movement, granting consumers greater control over the maintenance and longevity of their electronic devices.

Paulo Montenegro
Categories: Cellphones
Tags: laws, repair