Several years ago, Louis Blessings wife sought his expertise to replace the battery in her laptop. Blessing, an electrical engineer by training, assumed it would be a straightforward task. However, after removing the old battery and installing a new one, he was met with a frustrating surprisethe laptop refused to charge.

It became clear to Blessing that the laptop was rejecting the third-party battery due to a widespread practice known as parts pairing. This tactic, employed by many manufacturers, involves using software to dictate how and with which components devices can be repaired. In essence, it locks consumers into purchasing parts from the original manufacturer, limiting their ability to repair devices independently.

To me, that is a garbage business practice, Blessing expressed during an interview with Grist. While it may be legal, it is absolutely detrimental to consumers. Following this disappointing incident, Blessing's wife ultimately decided to purchase a new computer.

However, the business practices forcing consumers into such situations may soon face legal challenges. Blessing, a Republican state senator representing Ohios 8th Senate district, which encompasses much of the Cincinnati area, took a significant step in April by introducing a right-to-repair bill. This proposed legislation would afford consumers legal access to the necessary parts, tools, and documentation to repair a wide array of devices while prohibiting restrictive practices like parts pairing. If successful, Ohio would join states such as Colorado, Oregon, California, Minnesota, and New York in enshrining the right to repair into law.

This potential legislative success signifies a pivotal moment for the right-to-repair movement. Traditionally, the states that have adopted repair laws lean Democratic; however, as of February, right-to-repair bills have been introduced in all 50 states. The prospect of Ohiotraditionally a conservative state, where Republicans hold majorities in the state legislature and the governors mansionembracing a right-to-repair law illustrates the growing bipartisan support for consumer rights.

If something breaks that you cant fix, its just as much a hassle in New York as it is in Nebraska, noted Nathan Proctor, who leads the right-to-repair campaign at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group.

Expanding access to repair services holds the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions and pollution. A considerable portion of the emissions and pollutants tied to electronic devices occurs during their manufacturing. By extending the lifespan of gadgets, substantial environmental benefits can be realized. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group estimates that if Americans computers lasted just one additional year on average, it would equate to removing over 250,000 cars from the roads for a year. Moreover, enhancing repairability diminishes the demand for limited critical minerals, essential not only for consumer electronics but also for clean energy technologies.

While Blessing recognizes the environmental advantages of enhanced repair access, his primary motivation stems from a staunch belief in free-market principles. He is deeply concerned that large corporations have monopolized the electronics repair market, where they frequently restrict access to spare parts and repair manuals. This practice often necessitates that consumers turn back to the manufacturers for repairs or replacementsif the manufacturer offers a specific repair at all.

Its advantageous for a business to monopolize repair, Blessing stated. However, that does not promote a free market or competition.

For the third consecutive legislative session, Blessing is sponsoring the Digital Fair Repair Act, a right-to-repair bill. Although previous iterations of the bill stalled in committee, Blessing feels optimistic about its chances this year due to increasing support from both civil society and the business community. Major corporations such as Apple and Microsoft have previously lobbied against right-to-repair legislation, but as the movement gains traction, these companies seem to be reevaluating their positions.

There appears to be a growing desire to resolve this issue, Blessing noted, indicating that more manufacturers are beginning to see value in establishing clear repair guidelines.

Repair monopolies not only stifle market competition but also infringe upon individual rights to control ones property. This principle resonates with Brian Seitz, a Republican state congressman from Taney County in southwestern Missouri, who is introducing a motorcycle right-to-repair bill for the third time this year. Seitzs interest in the right-to-repair initiative ignited four years ago when local motorcyclists expressed their frustration at being unable to fix their bikes due to restricted access to necessary diagnostic codes. A spokesperson for the American Motorcyclist Association confirmed that limited access to repair information is indeed a concern among their members.

Motorcyclists value their freedom; they cherish the open road, Seitz explained. It was astonishing to learn they were being denied the ability to repair their own vehicles.

Although Seitzs motorcycle right-to-repair bill is still in its early stages, having been referred to the Missouri House Economic Development Committee without a scheduled hearing, he is hopeful. A version of the bill passed the House in the previous legislative session, and Seitz anticipates it will be successful again this year.

Whether theres enough time to push it through the Senate remains to be seen, he acknowledged, reflecting on the bills previous failure in that chamber.

If enacted, Missouri would become the first state to implement a motorcycle-specific right-to-repair law, as a 2014 agreement establishing a nationwide right-to-repair for the auto industry explicitly excluded motorcycles. Seitz believes many of his conservative colleagues would support the legislation, seeing it as a matter of liberty and individual rights.

Additionally, the Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF), a notable conservative think tank, recently released a white paper advocating for the right-to-repair, emphasizing the importance of restoring control and property rights for Texans. Since publishing this paper, TPPF staff have actively promoted the right-to-repair through opinion pieces and discussions with state policymakers.

Our advocacy for the right to repair stems from a firm belief in property rights and the need to address corporate restrictions that limit these rights, said Greyson Gee, a technology policy analyst at TPPF and co-author of the white paper.

In February, Giovanni Capriglione, a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives and chairman of the state legislatures Innovation and Technology Caucus, introduced an electronics right-to-repair bill influenced by TPPFs insights. In March, a companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Bob Hall.

While early drafts of the Texas bills have received criticism due to certain exemptions, including a clause excluding electronics used solely by businesses or government, the TPPF is working with repair advocates to strengthen the legislation. They aim to ensure a comprehensive right-to-repair law is established in Texas.

Chairman Capriglione is a strong advocate for consumer rights, and we will continue collaborating to enhance the bills language, Gee emphasized. Capriglione, representing part of the Fort Worth area, did not respond to requests for comment from Grist.

Across the nation, lawmakers from various political backgrounds are advancing additional right-to-repair initiatives. In Washington state, a bill addressing consumer electronics and household appliances passed the state House in March with overwhelming support, recording a vote of 94 to 1. Subsequently, the Senate approved its version of the bill with a 48 to 1 vote. The House is now expected to vote on the changes made in the Senate before sending the bill to the governor.

This legislation has always enjoyed bipartisan support, said Democratic state representative Mia Gregerson, the bills sponsor. The ability to repair devices we already own is a cause that resonates across the political spectrum. Over the past five years, Gregerson has engaged with tech giants like Microsoft and Google, as well as environmental groups, to address concerns from both consumers and businesses while tackling the issue of electronic waste.

Even conservative politicians and commentators recognize the environmental advantages of the right to repair, although they tend to frame their arguments around personal freedom and economic benefits. The TPPF's white paper highlights the potential for right-to-repair legislation to mitigate e-waste, citing United Nations research linking the rapid growth of this waste stream to limited repair and recycling opportunities.

Ultimately, the legislation must align with constitutional standards and withstand legal scrutiny, Gee concluded. However, the potential environmental impact of this bill is undoubtedly advantageous.

Blessing from Ohio concurred, stating that the right to repair will absolutely contribute to reducing electronics waste in our landfills, among other benefits.

This article originally appeared in Grist. For more about their mission to promote stories of climate solutions and a just future, please visit