[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},"mediaId",6059312,"mediaKeyId","3295267-abdfb1c2117f0d092cb3539806239fe5","parentId",3295267,"title","Committee discusses H.205 noncompete/franchisor review and plans staff work over the summer","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",2392850,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295267-abdfb1c2117f0d092cb3539806239fe5&start=2392&end=2392","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295267-abdfb1c2117f0d092cb3539806239fe5/thumbnail_2392850.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6059312/Vermont/Committee-discusses-H205-noncompetefranchisor-review-and-plans-staff-work-over-the-summer","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059312-a13d2fd134e50ef07b10be8e253184bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1774499305&Signature=ksCoChGUu53J9oUJ3M-0Dlwl116NJBFxWCmlmTNV12R6tzZnMD0XVrCVLSjUrUdkMgmW5bpYpy6j-O7SiOHToAcXgrAG65Ir43kvAKgxtmx6wcByeLaoZ-1pux78VrRe-2pmlmYRSH30Qhk16ac1iab24YeWk8M1V7gJw0s77vj~8p5NKQeYn3J~3ofeW~OmLaZBB5QGxOffgOeROqLsPEw8dCIFetecH-wBPe7zshEPUPiIzPS8fNELQy8zYUeDrm7ifUN42r6aGO9vHLc8oyrSRmnKv3sSkhtgbYAF~6Jrlh8~w0PjutT0CkQZG3i3NDcuOiIuiGqFlebUTFpsWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-14T06:12:29Z","article","Committee members discussed H.205, a bill addressing noncompete and franchisor issues, and directed staff to pursue additional work over the summer rather than placing legislation immediately. The committee chair (speaker not identified in the transcript) said the group had \"been discussing about having letters sent on the franchise or piece of franchisee\" and described outreach to the Office of Professional Regulation (OPR) and other agencies.

The committee agreed to ask regulators and interested parties to review other states' approaches to franchisor regulation and noncompete registration, and to report back. The chair and members discussed coordinating a summer review with the Department of Financial Regulation, OPR, the Bankers Association, and other stakeholders; the transcript records that Chris Delia from the Bankers Association had been consulted and that staff expected cooperation. The chair directed staff to \"work with Rick to draft the letter,\" to identify who should sit at the table for the summer review, and to return language to the committee for consideration.

No formal vote occurred during the meeting. The discussion focused on planning a study/engagement process and drafting outreach letters; committee members volunteered to participate in summer meetings with staff and stakeholders.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Commerce - 2025-05-13 - 1:25PM","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members agreed to ask state regulators and stakeholders to review franchisor registration and noncompete issues over the summer, coordinate with the Office of Professional Regulation and Department of Financial Regulation, and return with recommendations and draft language.","taxTitle","Commerce & Economic Development, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",36720,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6059318,"Committee reviews H.161 (Vermont Fair Repair Act) covering agriculture, electronic, and forestry equipment",1393,1110095,2504065,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295267-abdfb1c2117f0d092cb3539806239fe5&start=1110&end=2504","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295267-abdfb1c2117f0d092cb3539806239fe5/thumbnail_1110095.jpg","/articles/6059318/Vermont/Committee-reviews-H161-Vermont-Fair-Repair-Act-covering-agriculture-electronic-and-forestry-equipment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059318-cacfb7b5cfc31bb73a8259e4acbd0e74/orig.mp4?Expires=1774499305&Signature=I0gYEcIRPbT~-sXU3l6mwE8W2WiJ15uYjB1AXtHVA3OtQeT2uk~0D5ln3LzSUNH9mjt3ESdm0ZsEchDCbSvSOgKtQir~i7NdjKwMEvtCpoKXoVewtt0KX9e7QSCDAyTv5upSP5DZsxg7bqfqVNQS6sniaa7Br1eKoDCOAfnr9~PqrBvL5dYdOtbbqSQ0~cCoOJiU9Es8eNAtIm9R-Fd2Y6XADe3AlYfS70RW3ArxIGfA7FcFdryzl29Q9r~LHRUBFauzhmqorj2i0-PreJmfD4aayC6~Dx93R7iLunpzxlbj8vYdGVf5zOU6n3TDX9N1RX5VyuvT7D7b9JzJWkniDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The White House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development reviewed H.161, labeled in the meeting as the proposed \"Vermont Fair Repair Act,\" which would require original equipment manufacturers to make parts, tools, and documentation available to independent repair providers and owners of agricultural, electronic, and forestry equipment. Rick Segal, Office of Legislative Council, described the bill as broader than the medical-device draft and said it \"would be called the Vermont Fair Repair Act, also in chapter 160.\"

The draft sets definitions for \"agricultural equipment,\" \"electronic equipment,\" \"forestry equipment,\" \"authorized repair provider,\" \"independent repair provider,\" \"parts pairing,\" and \"embedded software.\" It would require OEMs to offer parts, tools, and documentation on the same terms they provide to authorized repair providers and forbids imposing additional costs or restrictions that are not \"reasonably necessary within the ordinary course of business.\" The draft also allows OEMs to satisfy obligations through authorized repair providers that consent to sell or make available parts and documentation on the manufacturer's behalf.

Committee members probed how the bill balances trade-secret protection against the obligation to provide repair information. Segal acknowledged OEMs regard documentation as a \"big sticking point\" and said the bill attempts to require access while preserving trade-secret protections. Members also raised questions about the phrase \"ordinary course of business\" and whether that standard will require judicial resolution; Segal said litigation history is limited and reasonableness will be fact-specific.

H.161 explicitly exempts medical devices (which H.160 addresses separately), motor vehicle manufacturers and dealers, and states that the chapter \"shall not require a manufacturer of a medical device to implement a provision in this chapter that is not permitted under the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or any other federal law that supersedes this section.\" The bill also addresses MOUs, noting that if an OEM is party to an MOU (for example, past agreements between John Deere and agricultural groups), the OEM remains obligated to meet the chapter's requirements and the attorney general would be notified in writing within 30 days after an MOU expires or is terminated. Segal read an intended effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.

Committee members did not take a vote. Members asked for further testimony and comment, particularly about trade-secret limits, the meaning of \"reasonable\" costs and burdens, and how MOUs should factor into compliance.","Lawmakers discussed H.161, an omnibus right-to-repair bill that would extend repair rights to agricultural, electronic, and forestry equipment, exempt medical devices and motor vehicles, prohibit unreasonable burdens by OEMs, and include AG enforcement and a January 1, 2026 effective date.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":55,"_73":55},6059324,"Committee reviews H.160, a proposed right-to-repair law for medical devices",1024,26725,1051605,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295267-abdfb1c2117f0d092cb3539806239fe5&start=26&end=1051","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295267-abdfb1c2117f0d092cb3539806239fe5/thumbnail_26725.jpg","/articles/6059324/Vermont/Committee-reviews-H160-a-proposed-right-to-repair-law-for-medical-devices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059324-77ae7c58686831212ac67a358e1ae19e/orig.mp4?Expires=1774499305&Signature=kDpb53F07gc~WF5aGBLBP2cEZHECbqiWf45Im9BONWQTi5CNs2oOittXRVPS4tM9~SHmSNoJyhZDNUG5uxPJNyXC9gy52mrhTXea46zXrk1elItaGYQgQUT6tEiptTRhisAlSA179koPrw4vJl9lprLIZm-U4xalOeeeU~g3V9238Q4udX~J~QeAunXOJCC16B~fSonD-96VDQsXRRvBJZctkdly80OLI5CyHbaULnlfibjlOq4WSZo8NbmD7hQI~4M1nIc~bafZvfhCvCar4lvxxvnua2V9rBUWja6ScEZayTR0bwDW8LBgwNzUS73tyBqm3lFYqJvNsaxbfWB2Yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The White House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development discussed H.160, a proposed right-to-repair bill that would create a new chapter in title 9106 to give independent repair providers and health care facilities access to parts, tools, and documentation needed to diagnose, maintain, or repair medical equipment. Rick Segal, Office of Legislative Council, told the committee the bill would be “first of its kind” because \"not one state, as of my research, has passed a law that would give the right to repair medical devices.\"

The bill would define key terms including \"authorized repair provider,\" \"independent repair provider,\" \"medical equipment,\" \"documentation,\" \"parts,\" and \"tools,\" and requires OEMs or their authorized repair providers to make available documentation, tools, and parts on \"fair and reasonable terms.\" Segal read provisions that limit charges for electronic documentation or tools to the \"reasonable actual cost\" when a physical copy is requested and that parts should be offered at costs and terms \"equivalent to the most favorable cost and terms\" provided to an authorized repair provider. The draft also includes a provision that trade secrets need not be disclosed.

Committee members pressed for clarification about how the bill would treat untrained repairers and narrowly defined health-care facilities. A committee member (questioner 1) asked whether the bill would prevent an unqualified person — \"my uncle\" doing a hobby repair — from being treated as an independent repair provider; Segal replied there is “some gray area” and that the bill could be clarified to address qualifications. Another committee member asked why the definition excludes \"any facility operated by religious groups relying solely on spiritual means through prayer and healing,\" and Segal said that language likely mirrors standard statutory clauses and recommended asking the bill sponsor for further clarification.

The draft ties enforcement to the Vermont Consumer Protection Act (cited in the draft as section 24-53), giving the attorney general authority to adopt rules and conduct investigations. Segal also noted ambiguous drafting in two places that the committee flagged: some provisions refer to equipment \"sold and used in the state\" while others say \"sold or in use in the state,\" and the committee recommended harmonizing that language. He read an intended effective date of July 1, 2025.

Committee members raised liability concerns and noted the bill states OEMs and authorized repair providers are not liable for damage caused by independent repair providers, while also carving out that damage caused by defective parts supplied by OEMs would not be treated as negligent repairs by the independent repairer. The committee did not vote on H.160; members asked for sponsor input and possible drafting changes. The matter was left for additional clarification and future drafting work.","Lawmakers discussed H.160, which would create a new right-to-repair chapter for medical devices, including definitions, obligations for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), trade-secret limits, enforcement under the Vermont Consumer Protection Act, and an intended effective date of July 1, 2025.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee discusses H.205 noncompete/franchisor review and plans staff work over the summer

Committee reviews H.161 (Vermont Fair Repair Act) covering agriculture, electronic, and forestry equipment

Committee reviews H.160, a proposed right-to-repair law for medical devices