[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6405266,"mediaKeyId","5873038-719bfd95eb97ba514837b7cc6f6ea5df","parentId",5873038,"title","Joint committee hears farmers and manufacturers clash over agricultural ‘right to repair’ bill","audioSeconds",2637,"startMs",541000,"endMs",3178000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5873038-719bfd95eb97ba514837b7cc6f6ea5df&start=541&end=3178","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5873038-719bfd95eb97ba514837b7cc6f6ea5df/thumbnail_541000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6405266/Massachusetts/Joint-committee-hears-farmers-and-manufacturers-clash-over-agricultural-right-to-repair-bill","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6405266-08471c4bea33e62183b474e755846558/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123439&Signature=JxhvbMaG6TCPNkWU9dM0og1Q4rz9lwrmMrVFOh18ZSK5LznHxxK2nttmtGI9xV9TgA7F06GCsfbqYYGiLDQTiYgiVs2DDjMJ-HyUNpMiKaBnP8zZ-xUS37z5-MVJJO8CUk1QxVG~ZZM6LW9uon6YKdfUUSncyQt684g7OgL7J92WB8I2dpdm4jMGfBnSHK8SL15DPJMUrmUlNk9LYSumSc7fHqE7ycOMp4o1Qhn5iXojw~M4fB1Uy4-F0RyAO4XcKYQ5RQ2G3T3KnfRfleuGcqqTOp0DukMPBiyVrlDqwS5n7A67tYugR74OVV4KkTp0RaSfdIoMvbuQCvE378eHfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Massachusetts Legislature","date","2025-10-01T00:00:00Z","article","The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure took testimony on House Bill 452, the agricultural equipment right‑to‑repair bill, during an October hearing in Boston.

Supporters said the bill would restore owners’ ability to maintain expensive equipment quickly. Opponents, including engine and truck manufacturers, contended broader access to control software and diagnostic tools would make it easier to tamper with emissions systems and risk public health.

The bill matters because modern tractors and other agricultural machines increasingly rely on integrated computers and software to control engine performance and emissions. Alan Schafer of the Engine Technology Forum told the committee those systems ‘‘work together to control combustion and treat emissions in real time’’ and warned the bill ‘‘would increase the risk of tampering with emissions control systems, a practice that’s typically in violation of the Federal Clean Air Act and would have significant negative impacts on air quality in Massachusetts.’’ Schafer cited a 2020 EPA estimate he said linked tampering with diesel engines to roughly 570,000 tons of excess NOx and 5,000 tons of particulate matter over a decade.

Manufacturers’ trade groups said existing voluntary agreements are already expanding access for owners. Patricia Hans of the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association said major manufacturers and owners agreed to memoranda of understanding in 2023 establishing how information and parts are made available, and that complaints filed under those agreements have been few and resolved.

Farm groups, independent repair advocates and some lawmakers countered that voluntary memoranda are not legally binding and do not guarantee timely, affordable access to parts or diagnostic tools. Dan Bosley of the Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation said the bureau, representing roughly 2,700 farm members, asked that the committee record opposition to H.452 in its current form. Willie Katie, who testified remotely as a farmer and stated he has worked on the issue for nine years, told the committee that ‘‘manufacturers use [proprietary software] so they can create a monopoly preventing necessary workers or businesses from being able to fix the equipment.’’ Representative Lawrence Metoon told the committee farm constituents complain of breakdowns that leave equipment idle for months while waiting for authorized service or factory codes.

Testimony touched on safety and liability as well as air quality. Manufacturers said software‑level repairs require specialized training and that improper changes can degrade emissions controls or create unsafe machine behavior. Farmer and repair advocates said owners routinely make repairs to keep harvests on schedule and that limiting access increases costs and downtime for family operations. ‘‘This is about helping Massachusetts farmers, the families that own farms, to be able to maintain their agricultural equipment in an affordable way,’’ Representative Metoon said.

Committee members asked for more detail about the scope of the problem and the effectiveness of the existing MOUs. Several lawmakers pressed witnesses on whether federal enforcement under the Clean Air Act, rather than state law, should be relied on to address tampering. Proponents replied that state law is needed to shore up owners’ rights and guarantee access locally.

The committee did not take a vote on H.452 during the hearing and heard both detailed technical and local‑impact testimony. Lawmakers asked staff to collect written submissions and additional technical information cited by witnesses, including the 2020 EPA report referenced by engine manufacturers and specifics about the 2023 memoranda of understanding between equipment makers and owner groups.

The hearing closed with multiple members asking for follow‑up materials and written comments. No formal committee action was taken during the session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee On Consumer Protection And Professional Licensure - 10-1-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers heard competing testimony on House Bill 452, which would expand repair access to farm equipment. Manufacturers warned of emissions and safety risks; farmers and repair advocates said current private agreements are insufficient and leave owners unable to fix high‑cost machines quickly.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MA, Massachusetts","taxId",77682,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6405264,"Panel debate over digital right‑to‑repair centers on e‑waste, consumer safety and cybersecurity",891,6802000,7693000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5873038-719bfd95eb97ba514837b7cc6f6ea5df&start=6802&end=7693","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5873038-719bfd95eb97ba514837b7cc6f6ea5df/thumbnail_6802000.jpg","/articles/6405264/Massachusetts/Panel-debate-over-digital-righttorepair-centers-on-ewaste-consumer-safety-and-cybersecurity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6405264-9666cee08e3ac0f6a09338819a37bdf1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123438&Signature=K6qtqINTlwcF3AC8-s6sADgRhxfUAVvtTTkYpfnUp~kH5ZHtL4jPxrsHdGtau-IFRhOwkRQ5vrIwPyiOjLtjRMfbeCX2HZnwCIWt8d12czlAXMeUgbZDD~WniaywmSxRSrw2S5eGBipZElsA4U8Lu2jPGeFKVTPIOjYx2IfN7UAwo7M9gWunD-Ux8xJ8wSA7LtZ3r8rE46nG6GM3ytzpI0PRUuM4HkDYZAvG7NJ7p4DcttqAhGfpTvdcsg-2ojqJ1zA2-HWob~JGclbpNdIxk3EJJ4KWYCcVWO6-f7jvbMxRY29Rjaq0gtW2u6xgVzm6HjebM-SNXoOVMiZmHVY7Kw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard competing testimony on House Bill 433 and Senate Bill 189, a proposal to expand consumers’ and independent repairers’ access to parts, tools and documentation for electronic devices.

Consumer advocates, environmental groups and independent repair shop owners testified in favor of the bill, saying it would reduce electronic waste, lower household replacement costs and support local repair businesses. Industry groups, trade associations and some businesses opposed the draft, arguing it could create cybersecurity and privacy risks and conflict with federal mandates for certain equipment.

Janet Dominitz of the Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group said the bill would help ‘‘reduce the most polluting kinds of waste’’ by making repairs feasible and preventing otherwise functional devices from being discarded. Jack Frimitt (MassPIRG) said consumer spending on electronics could be reduced if repair options are more widely available, and repair shops would see increased local business.

Independent repair shop owners gave personal examples. Daniel Adams, owner of a repair shop in Greenfield, described routine situations where parts and documentation are not available, recounting repairs for a MacBook with a lost final, a Samsung phone with family photos and other data loss scenarios he says could have been prevented with broader repair rights.

Industry witnesses — including the Consumer Technology Association, CTIA (wireless industry), Xerox and representatives of HVAC and imaging equipment manufacturers — urged caution. Katie Riley of CTA opposed a private right of action in the bill and asked that enforcement be limited to the attorney general, noting that an inconsistent patchwork of state rules would hamper compliance and invite litigation. CTIA and wireless carriers described voluntary programs and certification initiatives intended to broaden repair options while maintaining quality and security. Jane and others expressed concern about state‑by‑state divergence from the model language already adopted in several states.

Other opponents raised specialized concerns. The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute urged an explicit exemption for HVAC and water‑heating systems, citing federal refrigerant‑handling and technician certification requirements. Xerox asked for technical corrections to reconcile federal law enforcement and anti‑counterfeiting mandates for certain imaging devices.

Supporters emphasized e‑waste statistics and consumer cost impacts. Testimony cited a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection estimate that the state generates about 90,000 tons of electronic waste each year, with roughly 27,000 tons collected for proper disposal. Witnesses argued that repair access would reduce waste and save consumers.

No formal committee vote was taken. Committee members asked for precise legislative language fixes to address federal compliance and security concerns, copies of model legislation used in other states, and additional data from both proponents and industry describing real‑world impacts, enforcement concerns and any safety or security incidents tied to repair access. Several industry groups offered model language and technical edits for staff review.","Supporters said H.433/S.189 would reduce electronic waste and save consumers money; industry groups warned about privacy, security and safety risks and asked for narrow exemptions and federal alignment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6405265,"Workers, venues and lawmakers spar over ‘grab‑and‑go’ self‑checkout alcohol at large venues",6772,3208000,9980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5873038-719bfd95eb97ba514837b7cc6f6ea5df&start=3208&end=9980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5873038-719bfd95eb97ba514837b7cc6f6ea5df/thumbnail_3208000.jpg","/articles/6405265/Massachusetts/Workers-venues-and-lawmakers-spar-over-grabandgo-selfcheckout-alcohol-at-large-venues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6405265-15ad710512fbbb4fdc42f82c96bae2da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123438&Signature=cCO6CFPusSBtjFjpMYrw3D8DbUkBuCf~-jAP~3v8~IjUsA0Sr5C8FrKX-EuregipvbyKL6PQiBXXQnf2OpOPdLgbZ7ltpuLEZFCxAHnOvFkHHMCJDMUAwif9Qiw7NvHg7J8W6MnNIp56QVHXfr9j3A0aJzn2ASut6S9ju9blbac1HDpQ~5MATKtKZHOR1DozykHfTXSgJCchp47Dj6bahp-xa6e8NQ60VPhYQHunQ5MCf7FA90ka8fSCC-O3lq1Naehh6FRQT~2GBFCQfbdWgMNrf0B-VgqB7WuBesTi9C3ScPxF~wWaLCubTbogR3DyuLTjpYknPbroZ69zAUjhGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard hour‑long testimony on House Bill 325 and Senate Bill 225, legislation that would prohibit unsupervised or ‘‘grab‑and‑go’’ self‑checkout alcohol sales at large venues and require that an employee of the liquor licensee serve every alcoholic beverage.

The issue drew extensive testimony from venue workers and unions, venue operators and public officials. Unionized concession workers described frequent examples they say show the kiosks weaken enforcement of age and intoxication checks. Management from the Boston Red Sox, Aramark, TD Garden and Gillette Stadium said their supervised self‑checkout systems include staff oversight, third‑party security, and regulatory cooperation, and that the technology has substantially reduced wait times for fans.

Union and worker testimony focused on safety and enforceability. Carlos Aramayo, president of Unite Here Local 26, said a union survey found workers had observed ‘‘fans walking away with unopened drinks’’ (71 percent), theft at kiosks (nearly two‑thirds), underage appearing customers buying alcohol at kiosks (42 percent), and fans drinking in line prior to purchase (62 percent). Stand workers described scenarios in which scanners or kiosks admitted purchases before a human could verify an ID or properly evaluate intoxication.

Fenway Park stand workers gave detailed accounts. Laura Moffett, a certified beer seller, described seeing fans purchase alcohol at self‑checkout before gates opened and an instance where a fake ID was missed by a kiosk until a worker intervened. Amanda Savage, another long‑time stand worker, said she had regularly observed underage customers obtain alcohol and recounted mis‑ringed or unpaid items and customers attempting to leave with closed containers.

Venue operators defended their systems as layered and supervised. David Friedman, executive vice president and chief compliance officer for the Boston Red Sox, said ‘‘every stand is supervised by at least one Aramark employee’’ and that venue operators work with the Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and the Boston licensing board. He said self‑checkout stands at Fenway reduced transaction time roughly ‘‘42 to 49%’’ and that supervised self‑checkout has been used at Fenway since 2018 without ABCC violation notices specific to those operations, to his knowledge.

TD Garden and Gillette Stadium leaders described alternate technical approaches. Jim Nolan, Gillette’s chief operating officer, and Tim Townsell of Delaware North said their venues use staff oversight, security roving, and, in some cases, camera or sensor‑based systems that only charge payment at exit points. Townsell invited committee members to tour TD Garden’s markets to observe operations.

Lawmakers asked for data. Representative McKenna and others asked venue operators for sales volume and incident statistics to quantify whether self‑checkout affects overall alcohol purchases or alcohol‑related incidents. Venue representatives said some sales volume figures rose at kiosks and attributed part of the change to faster transactions, but noted that many variables — sporting rules, game length and event type — complicate direct comparisons.

No formal vote was taken. The record includes robust accounts from front‑line workers urging restrictions to protect public safety and from venue and service operators who argued that supervised self‑checkout, properly staffed and regulated, improves fan experience and can be implemented safely. Committee members requested written documentation of venue policies, training materials, and incident‑tracking procedures for further review before any committee action.","Union workers, venue operators and legislators debated House Bill 325/Senate 225, which would restrict self‑service alcohol kiosks at stadiums and arenas. Workers said kiosks enable underage sales and overserving; venue operators said supervised self‑checkout increases speed and is monitored by multiple staff and regulators.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Joint committee hears farmers and manufacturers clash over agricultural ‘right to repair’ bill

Panel debate over digital right‑to‑repair centers on e‑waste, consumer safety and cybersecurity

Workers, venues and lawmakers spar over ‘grab‑and‑go’ self‑checkout alcohol at large venues