Kansas House advances 'right to repair' bill with major amendments
Committee narrows scope of digital fair repair act, delays effective date to 2027
TOPEKA — The House Commerce, Labor and Economic Development Committee on Thursday recommended passage of HB 2700, the Kansas digital fair repair act, after adopting sweeping amendments that significantly narrow the bill's scope. The amended bill would require original equipment manufacturers to make diagnostic tools, parts and repair documentation available — but now only to authorized repair providers, not directly to consumers.
The committee amendments also carved out a broad exemption for "nonroad equipment," a category covering farm tractors, construction equipment, forestry machinery, mining equipment, marine vehicles, generators and power tools, among 18 listed categories. The effective date was pushed from 2026 to 2027. Telecommunications carriers and cable service providers were also exempted.
Right-to-repair legislation has gained traction nationally, driven by consumer frustration with manufacturers that restrict access to parts and repair manuals. Kansas farm groups have been among the loudest advocates, but the nonroad equipment exemption effectively removes agricultural machinery from the bill's reach — a win for manufacturers such as John Deere, which has lobbied against repair mandates. The amendments suggest the bill's Republican sponsors sought to balance consumer access with industry concerns in an agriculture-heavy state.
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