Right-to-Repair, Data Privacy Bills Clear Hurdle in California

Lawmakers in California advanced a right-to-repair bill Friday, which would allow consumers more flexibility to fix their own electronics, alongside new restrictions on data brokers, electronic appliance manufacturers, and cryptocurrency companies that all survived the key deadline.

But business groups also notched some wins with the failure of bills on social media addiction and a USB-C mandate that would have increased compliance burdens for technology companies.

The legislative activity was part the suspense hearing process, where hundreds of bills are quickly evaluated and many that have significant fiscal impact get killed swiftly and without debate. The challenge was more difficult ...