Right to Repair-what-it-means) in South Dakota: legislation tracker
Reviewed by the eCycling Central editorial team on May 2026
Current status: No legislation.
South Dakota's position on Right to Repair (RTR) legislation as of May 2026:
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Bill / law | - |
| Status | No legislation |
| Sponsor | N/A | | Coverage | TBD in committee | | Exemptions | TBD |
Key provisions
Bill text under review
Industry response
No industry response on record.
What this means for South Dakota consumers
Without an enacted RTR law, South Dakota consumers must rely on manufacturer goodwill, voluntary repair programmes, or federal protections (FTC RTR statement). Independent repair shops face restricted access to parts and diagnostic tools.
How South Dakota 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 complete digital RTR law
- Minnesota (HF 1337) - broad electronics coverage
- Colorado (HB23-1011) - agricultural + wheelchair + 2024 electronics expansion
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
Sources
- South Dakota 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)
Right to Repair in South Dakota (2026): Legislation, Bills, and What It Means: full framework (2026-05-20)
What right-to-repair laws actually require
As of 2026, eight US states have right-to-repair laws covering consumer electronics: Colorado, Massachusetts (1st, 2012), Minnesota, New York, Oregon, California, Maine, and Washington. The EU's Right to Repair Directive (Directive (EU) 2024/1799) entered force July 2026, applying to all 27 Member States plus the UK.
Common requirements across these laws:
- Manufacturers must supply parts, tools, documentation to independent repair shops AND consumers at the same prices and terms as authorised service providers
- No anti-tamper hardware that blocks legitimate repair (no proprietary screws unique to brand, no parts pairing that requires manufacturer activation for non-safety-critical components)
- No software locks preventing third-party parts from functioning at parity
- Diagnostic codes accessible to non-authorised repair channels
How to verify a manufacturer is complying
- Check their parts portal - do they sell genuine spare parts to consumers? Compare with our Manufacturer Take-Back Finder.
- Check service manual availability - Apple Self Service Repair Store, Samsung Genuine Parts, Lenovo CRU portal all publish manuals + part numbers.
- Compare repair quotes - independent shop vs authorised. If independent quote is impossible because parts aren't available, that's a violation candidate.
- Check parts pairing behaviour - swap a battery from one device to another; does it report "non-genuine" warnings? Some warnings are legal (informational); blocking core functionality is not.
What to do if a manufacturer refuses parts
US: File complaint with state attorney general (right-to-repair laws are enforced by state AGs in most jurisdictions). Federal layer: FTC enforcement under Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (2025 expanded interpretation).
EU + UK: File complaint with national consumer protection authority (in UK: Trading Standards via Citizens Advice; in EU: BEUC member organisation).
Brand-specific 2026 status
| Brand | Self-service repair? | Independent repair access? | Parts pairing? |
|---|
| Apple | Yes (Self Service Repair Store, 30+ countries) | Yes (Independent Repair Provider Program) | Reduced post-iPhone 14; full pairing on Touch ID + Face ID |
| Samsung | Yes (Galaxy upcycling + repair kits via iFixit partnership) | Yes (Samsung Genuine Parts portal) | Limited pairing (camera + display only) |
| Microsoft | Yes (Surface CRUs, US + EU) | Yes (Authorised Service Provider network) | Pairing on Hello camera only |
| Google | Yes (Pixel parts via iFixit, US + EU) | Yes (no formal program but parts available) | Pairing on fingerprint + camera |
| Sony | Limited (PlayStation parts via service centres only) | Limited | Not applicable to consumer devices |
Frequently asked questions
Does right-to-repair apply to phones, laptops, or only certain devices? Varies by jurisdiction. EU Directive 2024/1799 covers consumer electronics broadly. US state laws scope differently: Colorado covers powered wheelchairs + appliances + phones; Minnesota electronics; Maine all consumer electronics; New York phones + computers.
Is right-to-repair retroactive to devices made before the law passed? Mostly no - laws apply to devices sold from the effective date forward. EU Directive scope: devices placed on market after July 2026.
Can I lose my warranty by repairing a device myself? US: Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (1975) prohibits warranty void from independent repair. EU: Sale of Goods Directive 1999/44/EC + UK Consumer Rights Act 2015 the same. Only safety-critical or evidence-of-misuse repairs can void warranty.
Related guides + tools
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Right-to-repair framework verified against EU Directive (EU) 2024/1799 + US state laws (CO HB 23-1011, MN SF 1598, NY S4104A, OR SB 1596, CA SB 244, ME LD 1681, WA SB 5781) as of 2026-05-20. Operated by Defining Style Limited (UK Companies House 10572391, ICO Registration ZA711914).
