Manufacturing news · January 2025
Oregon's right-to-repair law takes effect with the first US ban on parts pairing
Oregon's Right to Repair Act (SB 1596), signed in March 2024, took effect on 1 January 2025, requiring manufacturers to provide parts, tools, documentation and software for electronics sold since 2015.
Its landmark provision bans parts pairing for devices made after 1 January 2025, prohibiting manufacturers from using software locks, misleading warnings or reduced functionality to deter repair using working third-party parts. It was the first US law to outlaw the practice, going further than earlier laws in California, Colorado, Minnesota and New York. Coverage extends across laptops, tablets, appliances and phones, while exempting medical devices, game consoles and farm equipment.
By strengthening the economics of independent repair and reuse, the measure supports a cornerstone of circular manufacturing.