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Senate committee rejects ‘right‑to‑repair’ bill for farm equipment after dealer safety and liability concerns
Summary
The Senate Agriculture committee heard hours of testimony on House Bill 18‑52, a right‑to‑repair measure for agricultural equipment, including an adopted amendment and extensive opposition from equipment dealers and service managers. After debate, the committee voted the bill down.
The Senate Agriculture, Forestry & Economic Development Committee voted against House Bill 18‑52, a right‑to‑repair measure that would have required equipment manufacturers and dealers to provide tools and software to allow farmers to repair certain equipment. An amendment to the bill that removed irrigation equipment from coverage was adopted during committee consideration, but the underlying bill failed on a committee vote.
Sen. Sarah Stone presented the bill and described it as protecting family farms and allowing farmers to repair older equipment out of warranty. “I believe farmers should have the right to work and repair on their own equipment,” Stone told the committee, framing the measure as a farmer‑protection and consolidation concern.
Dealership representatives urged the committee to reject the bill, describing existing commercially available solutions and raising safety and compliance concerns. Steve Shepherd, senior vice president of Greenway Equipment, told the committee “we're legislating a problem that does not exist” and described manufacturer subscription diagnostic tools and a memorandum of understanding that he said covers much of the industry.
United Ag & Turf regional service manager Scott Waller said the dealership opposes the bill “for safety concerns,” warning that access to calibration software could be used to disable emissions or safety systems and create hazards. Several dealer witnesses described extensive training investments and said manufacturers and dealers already provide repair tools, training and paid services.
Sen. Stone acknowledged the dealer testimony and said that many farmers — she argued — could not attend the hearing because they were working in the fields. After questions, alternating testimony for and against the bill and a committee debate, members voted. When asked for a roll call, the chair called for ayes and noes; committee members recorded opposition and the motion to report the bill as do‑pass failed.
The committee also considered and adopted an amendment that narrowed the bill’s scope; the committee record shows the amendment was offered, seconded and adopted before the final do‑pass motion was considered.
