Washington’s Right to Repair Bill Advances with Key Medical Device Exemption

Earlier this month, Washington’s state legislature passed HB-1483, a right to repair bill with an overwhelming 94-1 vote. Supported by 60 local repair shops, consumer advocates, environmental groups, and tech giants including Google and Microsoft, the bill now heads to the Senate. If approved, it will enhance consumer access to affordable digital product repairs.

Thankfully, this bill took into consideration the need for certain product exemptions, most notably for medical devices. Last year, Washington lawmakers proposed similar legislation that did not include a carve out for medical equipment which could have significantly undermined patient safety in the Evergreen State.  

As of this year, legislation in support of right to repair has been introduced in all 50 states. Over the past five years, seven states have successfully enacted such laws, reflecting a powerful and expanding movement across the country. While this bill benefits various consumer devices and farming equipment, extending similar legislation to medical devices poses significant risks to individual health and safety.

Not all products are created equal, and Washington’s legislation smartly highlights this critical distinction. The stakes are considerably higher when repairing medical equipment compared to phones or tablets due to their direct impact on patient health and safety. By exempting complex medical devices from right-to-repair laws, states like Washington are taking the right steps to prioritize patient safety.