A bid to weaken Colorado’s landmark 2024 right-to-repair law has been thwarted, with the proposed SB26-090 bill being defeated on a narrow 7-to-4 vote. The legislation aimed to exempt 'critical infrastructure' from repair protections, sparking concerns among advocates who feared it could jeopardise their ability to fix everyday devices.

The bill had gained support from tech giants like Cisco and IBM during its passage in the Colorado Senate, but faced fierce opposition at a lengthy House Committee hearing. Dozens of stakeholders—from consumer groups to environmental organisations—voiced their concerns, ultimately securing the legislation’s defeat.

Danny Katz, executive director of CoPIRG, highlighted the collective effort behind the pushback: “We took nothing for granted.” The diverse coalition included Repair.org, iFixit, Consumer Reports and local businesses like Blue Star Recyclers. They stressed the importance of consumer freedom over device repair.

This narrow escape for Colorado’s right-to-repair law could set a precedent both locally and nationally. It might signal to tech companies that such legislative efforts face significant pushback, potentially altering their approach in future.