State Right-to-Repair Proposals Pit Consumers Against Companies

Consumers would have easier access to repairing products including cell phones, wheelchairs, and farm equipment under legislation pending in states across the country, which faces opposition by a large swath of business interests.

Proposals in at least 23 states would require electronics companies like Apple Inc. or other manufacturers to make reasonably available the tools, parts, and information needed for people to fix the products themselves or through an independent repair shop. The state activity follows first-in-the-nation laws in New York and Colorado, which address repairs for many digital electronic devices and powered wheelchairs, respectively.

Right-to-repair advocates argue consumers should ...