Farmers have had many hardships in the past few years. Uncertainty from poor weather and the coronavirus have been challenging for Utah’s agriculture industry. It’s incumbent upon our lawmakers to focus on policy that helps the agriculture industry thrive.
A recent article claimed that “right to repair” legislation is gaining headway with lawmakers, but that’s false. The issue may be making headlines, but “right to repair” bills have failed every time they have been introduced in state legislatures.
Farmers do have the right to fix their equipment and aren’t clamoring for the information and tools they need to do so. Dealers and equipment manufacturers have already made a majority of the information, such as repair guides and diagnostic information, available and have committed to offering more comprehensive information and tools by 2021.
Advocates pushing these “right to repair” bills seek access to a company’s proprietary information that they can use to illegally modify equipment. Their push to gain access undermines federally regulated safety and environmental controls in equipment that exists to protect the equipment operator and the public.
I know that our state lawmakers will do the right thing to help our agriculture industry and not support “right to repair” legislation.
AJ Arrington
St. George