The Surprising New Ally in the Fight to Make It Easier to Fix Your Phone

This story was originally published by Grist and has been republished here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. “I am writing to state Microsoft’s support for E2SHB 1392,” also known as the Fair Repair Act, Plenefisch wrote in an email to the committee. When the Washington State House introduced an electronics right-to-repair bill in January 2022, Microsoft’s official position on it was neutral—something that state representative and bill sponsor Mia Gregerson, a Democrat, called “a really big step forward” at a committee hearing. Despite Microsoft’s neutrality, last year’s right-to-repair bill failed to pass the House amid opposition from groups like the Consumer Technology Association, a trade association representing numerous electronics manufacturers. While Minnesota’s right-to-repair bill is still making its way through committees in the House and Senate, in Washington state, the Fair Repair Act’s opponents were ultimately unmoved by Microsoft’s support.