Coloradans will soon have an easier time fixing their broken cell phones, gaming systems and other electronic devices under a “right-to-repair” law signed by the governor Tuesday that puts the state on the leading edge nationally.
Under the new law, tech companies like Apple and Amazon will be required to provide software and physical tools to third-party repair shops and to individual consumers to fix cracked phone screens and malfunctioning equipment. The goal, supporters say, is to make it easier to fix broken gear while lessening the need for replacement purchases and preventing repairable equipment from ending up in landfills.
The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2026.
“Cell phones are a part of our daily lives. We should have more choices on how to fix them when they break,” said Rep. Brianna Titone, an Arvada Democrat who was one of the bill sponsors, in a news release after Gov. Jared Polis signed the legislation into law. “This new law will give consumers more options to fix their broken electronics, saving them money and time on costly repairs.
The law will require that tech companies provide software tools for free, though they can charge for physical equipment. The statute also prohibits companies from programming their equipment to only work with certain components, which limits third-party repairs.
With Polis’ signature, cell phones and other personal electronic gear become the latest piece of technology that can now more easily be fixed by Colorado consumers or independent repair shops, thanks to a steady stream of “right-to-repair” legislation passed in recent years. Advocates have praised the state as a national leader in consumer repairs.
Last year, lawmakers approved a bill requiring manufacturers of tractors and other farm equipment to provide information and tools to farmers. The year before that, Polis signed a bill making it easier for people who use motorized wheelchairs to fix their equipment themselves. Titone sponsored all of those bills.
The Colorado Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocacy group, hailed the state’s recent right-to-repair work, characterizing it as a national leader.
“This action makes Colorado the Right to Repair state — we will be able to fix more of our stuff than people in any other state,” CoPIRG executive director Danny Katz said in a news release. “… Coloradan consumers are now empowered with more options on when, where and how we fix our stuff. Having these options saves us time and money while reducing the amount of waste that we produce.”
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