Enacts provisions relating to the repair of certain devices. (BDR 52-50)
AB 407 creates a right-to-repair framework for certain mobility devices designed for people with physical disabilities, including powered wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and power-assist devices. The bill requires original equipment manufacturers to make available, on fair and reasonable terms, documentation, parts, tools, and related software updates needed to diagnose, maintain, repair, or update the equipment. It also defines key terms such as independent repair provider, authorized repair provider, embedded software, firmware, and parts pairing, and it applies these requirements to both owners and independent repair businesses operating in Nevada.
The bill also prohibits manufacturers from retaliating against authorized repair providers, imposing unnecessary restrictions on repair access, or using software or other mechanisms to block replacement parts, reduce functionality, or display misleading warnings about unapproved parts. At the same time, it preserves certain limits: manufacturers are not required to disclose trade secrets beyond what is necessary, and they are not liable for damage caused by repairs or modifications performed by owners or independent repair providers. Violations are treated as deceptive trade practices under Nevada law, which subjects offenders to civil and criminal penalties under the state’s consumer protection statutes.
AB 407 amends Nevada law by adding a new set of provisions to Chapter 597 of NRS governing repair access for mobility devices used by people with physical disabilities. It creates enforceable obligations for manufacturers to provide repair information, parts, and tools, while also restricting anti-competitive repair barriers such as parts pairing and software-based lockouts. The bill expands the legal rights of device owners and independent repair providers, and it gives the state an enforcement mechanism by classifying violations as deceptive trade practices under NRS 598.0903 to 598.0999.
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial in the Legislature. It passed the Assembly unanimously 42-0 and the Senate unanimously 21-0, indicating strong bipartisan agreement. The absence of committee transcript material also suggests there was little recorded public disagreement or sustained opposition in the available legislative history.
The main policy tension in AB 407 is between expanding repair access and preserving manufacturer protections. Supporters would likely favor the bill’s goal of helping disabled Nevadans and independent repair shops obtain the parts, tools, and information needed to keep mobility devices working, while manufacturers may be concerned about disclosure burdens, software access, and limits on their ability to control authorized repair networks. The bill addresses some of those concerns by protecting trade secrets, limiting liability for third-party repairs, and allowing reasonable training or certification programs, but it still prohibits manufacturers from using contractual or technical barriers to restrict repair.