California became the third state to pass an electronics right-to-repair act, following a unanimous vote in the California state Assembly on September 13. The bill, now headed to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk to be signed into law, previously passed the California Senate in May with a unanimous vote. 

California will become the third and largest state in the nation to adopt “right to repair” legislation broadly applicable to manufacturers of electronic devices. Minnesota and New York approved similar legislation in the past year. However, the California bill stands out in that it requires companies to expand access to repair materials like parts, tools, documentation and software for a longer period of time. The bill (SB 244) will cover electronics and appliances made and sold after July 1, 2021.