New Laws Take Effect, Tech Repair Businesses To Benefit
New Minnesota legislation has gone into effect on July 1 that broadens access to the “right to repair” technology. A repair shop in Golden Valley could benefit.
The Digital Fair Repair Act was incorporated into Walz’s appropriation bill and signed into law in 2023. It goes into effect July 1 and says manufacturers have to make parts, information and tools available to anyone looking to repair their products.
Steve Reed, president of Fix My Busted Computer in Golden Valley, said he isn’t sure how much it will change his work. He said up until now though, they couldn’t access replacement parts for newer Apple products.
“We end up having to go to third parties,” Reed said. “Sometimes overseas, sometimes eBay, sometimes Amazon, sometimes different parts places to get parts right now.”
Steve Reed works on a computer in his Golden Valley store.
There’s never a dull moment at the repair shop. It’s busy, but quiet work. Employees take on all kinds of problems.
“People break stuff, and we end up fixing it. Thus: ‘Fix My Busted Computer.’ The name kind of says it all,” Reed said.
In the shop on Monday, workers looked at dust, glitches and even tech affected by lightning strikes. Reed said some problems are tougher to solve with less accessible parts.
Repair for All
Reed said he was familiar with the bill, though he is still looking to see how it would change his business or what it offers customers.
“We’re trying to figure out exactly how we are going to be able to take advantage of using it,” Reed said. “Because we don’t know exactly where we’re going to get all of the new parts, documentation, tools and different things that the law provides for.”
He hopes it solves more problems going forward.
Attorney General Keith Ellison addresses some frequently asked questions about the act on his website. The new law applies just to products sold after July 1, 2021.
