Right to Repair in California (2026): Legislation, Bills, and What It Means

Right to Repair in California: legislation tracker

Reviewed by the eCycling Central editorial team on May 2026

Current status: Enacted.

California's position on Right to Repair (RTR) legislation as of May 2026:

| Field | Value | |---|---| | Bill / law | Right to Repair Act (SB 244) | | Status | Enacted | | Year enacted | 2023 | | In force from | 2024 | | Sponsor | Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D) | | Coverage | Electronic products and appliances priced over $50 (manufactured after July 1, 2021) | | Exemptions | Game consoles, alarm systems, certain industrial equipment |

Key provisions

7 years parts/tools availability for products $100+; 3 years for $50-$100. Must include independent shops + consumers. $1k-$5k daily fines for violation.

Industry response

Apple endorsed (first major manufacturer); Microsoft initially opposed

What this means for California consumers

As an enacted RTR state, California consumers and independent repair shops have legal access to manufacturer parts, tools, diagnostic information, and firmware on covered products. Manufacturers can no longer refuse to supply repair materials to non-authorised parties for products covered by the law.

How California compares

The five strongest US Right to Repair states (as of May 2026):

• California (SB 244) - electronics + appliances $50+, 7-year parts availability
• Oregon (SB 1596) - first state to ban parts pairing
• New York (S4104A) - first comprehensive digital RTR law
• Minnesota (HF 1337) - broad electronics coverage
• Colorado (HB23-1011) - agricultural + wheelchair + 2024 electronics expansion

Why Right to Repair matters for e-waste

The single biggest driver of premature electronics disposal is the absence of affordable, accessible repair. Apple's own data shows that when out-of-warranty repair costs exceed 50% of replacement, consumers replace rather than repair. Right to Repair laws lower repair costs by:

• Forcing manufacturers to make parts available to independents (lower margins)
• Banning parts-pairing software locks (Oregon model)
• Requiring diagnostic tool access (any independent shop can diagnose)
• Setting minimum parts-availability windows (typically 5-10 years)

Per UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024, the world generated 62 million tonnes of e-waste in 2022. RTR-enacted jurisdictions have shown 8-15% reductions in electronics-replacement rates within 24 months of law enactment, per the European Environmental Bureau's tracking.

Related resources

• Global Right to Repair Tracker
• How to find a certified electronics recycler
• Manufacturer take-back programmes
• E-waste statistics: global facts and figures

Sources

• California legislative database
• Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) Right to Repair Tracker
• iFixit Right to Repair pages
• Repair.org legislative database
• UN Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 (ewastemonitor.info)