AN ACT Relating to establishing a right to repair for mobility equipment for persons with physical disabilities;
SB 5680 establishes a Washington “right to repair” framework for mobility equipment used by people with physical disabilities, including power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs, mobility scooters, and power-assist devices. The bill requires original equipment manufacturers to make available, on fair and reasonable terms and costs, the documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and tools needed to diagnose, maintain, and repair covered equipment. It also defines key terms such as authorized repair provider, independent repair provider, parts, tools, and embedded software, and requires manufacturers to provide access to certain information and updates needed to restore full functionality.
The bill also limits what the law requires manufacturers to do. It does not force them to sell parts that are no longer available, disclose trade secrets except as necessary to provide repair materials, or alter existing authorized repair agreements except to the extent those agreements conflict with the new chapter. Independent repair providers must give consumers written notice that they are not authorized by the manufacturer and whether they use non-manufacturer parts. The bill further states that manufacturers and authorized repair providers are not liable for damage caused by independent repair work unless the damage is attributable to their own design or manufacturing defects, and that manufacturers do not warrant services performed by independent repair providers.
The bill adds a new chapter to Title 19 RCW and declares violations of the chapter to be unfair or deceptive acts in trade or commerce and unfair methods of competition under the Consumer Protection Act. Enforcement is assigned solely to the Attorney General. In practical terms, the law expands repair access for owners and independent repair shops by requiring manufacturers of mobility equipment to provide repair-related materials and access on fair and reasonable terms, while also creating disclosure obligations for independent repair providers and preserving certain manufacturer protections and trade secret limits.
The bill appears to have broad bipartisan support and moved through both chambers with strong vote margins, including unanimous or near-unanimous floor votes after committee approval. The legislative findings frame the measure as a disability access and consumer protection issue, emphasizing long repair delays and the importance of reliable mobility devices for health, safety, school, and employment. The overall sentiment reflected in the voting history is favorable and largely noncontroversial.
The main policy tension is between expanding repair access for consumers and independent repair providers, and protecting manufacturers’ proprietary interests and existing service arrangements. The bill addresses concerns about trade secrets, liability, and warranty responsibility by limiting disclosure requirements, preserving manufacturer liability only for their own defects, and stating that manufacturers are not responsible for independent repair work. Another point of potential contention is the scope of required access to parts, software, firmware, and tools, though the final votes suggest these issues did not generate significant opposition.