Kansas committee hears industry-backed, dealer-opposed digital 'right to repair' bill with carve-outs under discussion

The Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development heard testimony on House Bill 2,700, a narrowly tailored digital repair bill that would require manufacturers to make documentation, replacement parts and tools available to independent repair providers and equipment owners on "fair and reasonable" terms no later than one year after first sale, with multiple statutory exemptions.

Reviser Hamilton described the bill's scope and exemptions: it would not apply to digital electronic equipment with a wholesale price under $50, to items first sold in Kansas before July 1, 2026, or to categories such as medical devices, aircraft components, heavy industrial equipment, critical infrastructure IT, and home appliances containing embedded digital electronics. Motor vehicles and farm equipment would be exempt where manufacturers comply with industry‑recognized MOUs. The attorney general would have exclusive enforcement authority, including a 30‑day cure period; the bill would not create a private right of action and would limit manufacturers' liability for third‑party repairs.

Steven Durst, a consultant representing stakeholder negotiations, said proponents had worked with groups including the Kansas Chamber, John Deere, Caterpillar, the Auto Alliance and major tech companies to craft amendment language and expected a technical amendment to move the compliance date to 2027. He urged the committee to consider a narrowed bill title to reflect the limited scope.

Garmin's head of government affairs, Daniel Trope, urged a balanced approach that preserves parity (not requiring manufacturers to supply materials that do not exist), tight scope and explicit exclusions for products with primary safety functions such as avionics or marine safety systems. He said the bill was modeled on Texas legislation and would provide predictability for manufacturers while advancing consumer and independent repair access.

Neutral testimony from the Kansas Chamber, represented by Eric Stafford, said industry concerns were being addressed by the proposed amendment and that the Chamber would support the measure if the language satisfied its manufacturing members.

Opponents included representatives of John Deere dealerships and equipment dealers, who argued the bill as written could force dealerships to sell parts at cost, harm fill‑rate business models and inadvertently cover non‑road agricultural equipment unless a nonroad exemption is added. Eric Estes of the Kansas Deere Dealers Association and other dealer witnesses said a "nonroad" industry exemption language under discussion with stakeholders would move them to neutral or support; absent that carve‑out they remained opposed.

The committee did not vote. The chair urged those preparing a global amendment to file it quickly so the committee might consider the bill at the next meeting.