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Right to Repair in the U.S.

US State Legislation: Right to Repair for Wheelchairs

Compiled for GOAT (Grassroots Open Assistive Tech)
Last updated: February 21, 2026

✅ ENACTED LAWS

California – SB 1384: Powered Wheelchairs: Repair

Status: Enacted 2024, effective January 1, 2025

Summary: Requires manufacturers to provide documentation, parts, software, and tools for powered wheelchair repair

Links:
Bill Text |
Bill Status |
Digital Democracy |
GOAT Coverage

Colorado – HB22-1031: Consumer Right To Repair Powered Wheelchairs

Status: Enacted 2022, effective January 1, 2023

Summary: First state to pass wheelchair right-to-repair. Requires manufacturers to provide parts, software, firmware, tools, and documentation to independent repair providers and owners.

Links:
Bill Page |
LegiScan

Nevada – AB 407: Right to Repair

Status: Enacted 2025

Summary: Requires manufacturers to provide repair resources to users and independent shops. Protects manufacturer proprietary information and limits liability for repairs made by others.

Links:
Bill Overview (Official) |
Bill PDF

Oregon – SB 550

Status: Enacted 2025, effective January 1, 2026

Summary: Expands Oregon’s right-to-repair law to include electric wheelchairs and complex mobility devices. Manufacturers must provide tools, parts, and repair information to independent repair shops and wheelchair users.

Links:
Bill Overview (Official) |
Oregon Right to Repair Info

Oregon – SB 549

Status: Enacted 2025

Summary: Removes prior authorization requirement from Medicaid for wheelchair repairs, reducing technician wait times.

Links:
Enrolled Bill |
Bill Overview

Washington – SB 5680: Mobility Equipment Repair

Status: Signed May 19, 2025, effective July 27, 2025

Summary: Covers powered wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and power assist devices. Requires manufacturers to make documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and tools available to independent repair providers and device owners at fair and reasonable terms.

Links:
Bill Summary |
Bill Text |
Session Law

💪 REAL WORLD IMPACT

Bruce Goguen and Robin Bolduc (Broomfield, CO) became the first people to successfully use a wheelchair right-to-repair law. On January 2, 2023—the day after Colorado’s law took effect—they called Pride Mobility requesting access to the repair app. Within two weeks, the manufacturer complied.

Read more: Colorado Public Radio

Other states’ laws are too new for documented cases. Know of other examples of requests and compliance, litigation in progress, or successful enforcement? Email us.

⏳ PROPOSED LEGISLATION

Alabama – HB75

Status: Introduced February 2025, died in committee (25% progression)

Summary: Would establish requirements for timely wheelchair repair and require Medicaid to cover customized wheelchairs.

Links:
Bill Status – LegiScan |
Bill Text |
Alabama Right to Repair

Illinois – HB 3677: Complex Wheelchair Right to Repair Act

Status: Introduced 2025, would be effective January 1, 2026 if passed

Summary: Creates Complex Wheelchair Right to Repair Act. Covers complex rehabilitation technology. Key provisions:

  • Manufacturers must provide documentation, parts, service access methods, and tools to independent repair providers
  • Suppliers must offer service and repairs for the useful life of the wheelchair
  • Prohibits prior authorization requirements for complex rehab technology repairs
  • Trade secret protections included
  • Violations are unlawful under Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act

Links:
Bill Status |
LegiScan |
Illinois Right to Repair

Note: Illinois also has HB 3490 on wheelchairs, but details not yet available.

Massachusetts – S.2546: An Act Expanding Wheelchair Warranty Protections

Status: Passed Senate 39-0 (November 2022), passed again January 2024, awaiting House vote

Summary: The Wheelchair Warranty Bill. Key provisions:

  • Extends warranty coverage to all wheelchairs in Massachusetts for two years (up from one)
  • Holds providers to firm timelines for responding when a chair is inoperable
  • Provides loaner chairs and reimbursements to consumers during warranty repairs
  • Requires providers to maintain inventory of spare parts

Links:
Bill Info – S.2546 |
Original Bill Q&A |
WBUR Coverage

New York – S.4500: Consumer Wheelchair Repair Act

Status: Passed State Senate 2025, pending Assembly approval

Summary: Sponsored by Sen. Patricia Fahy. Key provisions:

  • Creates “timely repair for wheelchair program”
  • Requires manufacturers to complete wheelchair repairs within 10 days
  • Requires temporary wheelchairs if repairs take longer than 30 days
  • Maintains dedicated communication channels for repair requests
  • Extends warranty period from one to two years
  • Establishes that wheelchair repairs within five years of initial prescription are medically necessary without requiring new prescriptions
  • Requires manufacturers to provide independent repair providers and owners with necessary parts, tools, and documentation

Links:
Bill Text – Original |
Bill Text – Amendment A |
Press Release

🇺🇸 FEDERAL LEGISLATION

H.R. 5039 – Wheelchair Right to Repair Act

Status: Introduced 2025

Sponsors: Reps. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA)

Summary: Would amend the federal Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to allow consumers and independent repairers to legally fix powered wheelchairs. Would require manufacturers to provide the parts, documentation and tools necessary for those repairs.

Links:
Bill Text – Congress.gov |
Rep. Frost Press Release

📋 OTHER STATES WITH GENERAL RIGHT-TO-REPAIR LAWS

(May cover wheelchairs as electronic devices)

Minnesota – Digital Fair Repair Act

Status: Effective July 1, 2024

Summary: Covers products with electronic elements (could include wheelchairs). Applies to products manufactured after July 1, 2021. Requires manufacturers to provide parts, information, and tools on “fair and reasonable” terms.

Links:
Minnesota Right to Repair Overview

New York – Digital Fair Repair Act

Status: Enacted (for digital electronic equipment generally)

Summary: Requires digital electronic equipment manufacturers to make repair information and parts available to consumers and third-party repair services. Not wheelchair-specific but may provide some coverage.

📊 BACKGROUND CONTEXT

The Problem

A 2022 survey by U.S. PIRG found:

  • 62% of wheelchair users waited 4+ weeks for repairs
  • 40% waited 7+ weeks for repairs
  • 93% needed at least one repair in the past year
  • 77% required two or more repairs

These lengthy delays create significant challenges and can lead to serious medical complications for wheelchair users.

Legislative Momentum

  • To date, lawmakers in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington have enacted wheelchair right-to-repair bills with strong bipartisan majorities
  • In 2025, lawmakers have introduced or carried over 50 right-to-repair bills across 24 states
  • All 50 states have now filed some form of right-to-repair legislation over the last 8 years

🔗 RESOURCES

Compiled by: GOAT (Grassroots Open Assistive Tech)
Date: February 21, 2026