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