Right-to-Repair Law for Electronics Enacted in California

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) on Tuesday signed legislation that would give consumers greater flexibility in repairing their electronic devices such as smartphones or televisions, making California the third state with such a right-to-repair law.

The state’s measure (SB 244), authored by state Sen. Susan Eggman (D), had advanced unlike years past thanks to national momentum behind the right-to-repair movement and a surprise endorsement from smartphone maker Apple Inc. The legislation would allow consumers and independent repair providers to receive software, parts, documentation, and other tools needed to repair a product from the manufacturer.

The bill sailed through ...