New York was the first state in the country to pass a "right to repair" bill, which is now law, but it is so weak and watered down that it is effectively worthless to consumers. Following its passage in the New York State Senate in 2021 and its passage in the final days of 2022, New York State has now officially enacted the Electronics Right to Repair Act. The bill covers electronic devices first sold in New York after July 1, 2023, with certain exceptions.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul wrote in a 2023 public memo: "As technology and smart devices become more and more important to New Yorkers' lives, it is important for consumers to be able to repair the devices they rely on in a timely manner. This legislation will increase consumer choice in the repair market by giving consumers greater access to the parts, tools and documentation needed for repairs. Encouraging consumers to maximize the life of their devices through repairs is a laudable goal to save money and reduce e-waste."
But the amendments and huge exceptions she proposed at the time actually gave away nothing. For example, Apple doesn't have to change anything noteworthy about the way it does business, and Apple's self-repair program goes beyond what New York law requires.
The law clearly states that "original equipment manufacturers are permitted to supply component assemblies rather than individual components when the risk of improper installation increases the risk of injury." Apple, Google, Microsoft and other companies include all available parts under this exception, and New York State has no objection to this.
Board swapping is how Apple currently delivers services at all levels. Whether at an Apple store, an authorized service center, or through self-repair, Apple requires returns of "core" components (such as entire circuit boards) and does not allow component-level repairs such as resistors, diodes, or capacitors. Consumable items such as batteries and screens do not need to be returned.
The legal revision also bans bypassing device security mechanisms and removes a previous requirement for vendors to provide necessary passwords for devices. This means Apple can still serialize parts after repairs. Furthermore, it is completely unsuitable for use on any level of medical equipment, as well as home alarm systems, e-bikes, power tools, or farm equipment.
Consumer groups claim the bill will save consumers approximately $330. It's unclear exactly how the savings will be, given that big tech manufacturers don't have to change the way they do business.