The Right to Repair movement continues to grow as new states adopt repair legislation to extend repair capabilities to third parties. Texas recently joined Colorado, Washington, and Connecticut in efforts by passing a repair bill. HB2963 takes effect Sept. 1, 2026, requiring OEMs to be more flexible with tools and information required for device repairs. While the bill makes Texas the tenth U.S. state to pass repair legislation, all 50 states have officially filed or are pending similar legislation.
The Right to Repair Battle
Beginning in 2012 in Massachusetts with auto repair complaints, the Right to Repair movement has grown and become a global phenomenon. From farm equipment and vehicles to personal devices like phones and AirPods, the right to repair has reached every corner of the technological landscape, and it becomes more crucial the faster technology evolves.
One major driver of repair independence is the skyrocketing price of technology. The launch price of flagship smartphones has increased by 70 to 85 percent over the last decade. In 2016, a top-tier device from Apple or Samsung ranged from $650 to $750. Now, standard flagships launch at $1,200, while premium, high-end models reach anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000.
Smartphone prices alone are enough to tempt consumers to keep devices longer, but repair prices add another layer. Some OEM repairs cost almost as much as a new device, and many OEMs inevitably push consumers to just purchase new devices. This is the primary catalyst for the mass exodus from OEM repairs.
Repair Roadblocks and Restrictions
Big-name OEMs like Apple and Microsoft lobbied against the movement for years and have historically been major roadblocks to repair policies, though they have more recently shifted their stance. The primary problem is design. Modern tech designs prioritize thinness, compactness, and manufacturing efficiency over repairability. Using commercial-grade adhesives instead of screws creates a permanent bond that requires extreme heat and suction cups to dismantle. This increases the risk of device damage during the repair attempt.
OEMs also intentionally use proprietary or obscure fasteners to prevent standard toolsets from working. Other roadblocks, such as soldering and integration, sandwich layouts, and display-first entries, also increase the risk of device damage and prevent third-party repair shops from repairing used devices. OEMs became notorious for restricting access to the tools and information needed to fix devices, with Apple chief among them. However, the tide is changing, and more OEMs are shifting their stance.
Restricted access has long been a battle for repair shops, but shifting policies mean more access to spare parts, tools, and repair information for independent repair providers.
HB2963 Changes to Texas Repair Legislation
According to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, HB 2963 protects consumer property rights by requiring manufacturers to make available, on fair and reasonable terms, the documentation, parts, and tools needed for independent repair providers and product owners to fix their digital electronic equipment, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other consumer electronics.
Effective September 1, third-party repair shops and ITAD vendors will have access to replacement parts, diagnostic tools, and repair documentation for electronic equipment worth over $50, expanding repair potential and increasing value recovery.
Though this is a massive win for refurbishers, HB2963 did not address one roadblock: parts pairing. Parts pairing is a manufacturing process that digitally locks individual hardware components to a specific device’s motherboard via unique serial numbers. As a result, if a refurbisher uses a harvested screen from one broken smartphone to fix another, the device’s software may not recognize it as a verified component because the serial numbers do not match.
How the Changes Affect Device Lifecycles, Refurbishment, and Resale
Enabling access to previously restricted device tools and information expands the availability of high-quality used IT hardware, significantly transforming the refurbishment and resale industry. The legislation removed legal and technical roadblocks that forced repair shops and refurbishers to rely solely on harvested scrap parts.
Device remarketing economics fluctuate with market trends, OEM cycles, depreciation rates, and other factors, and are significantly affected by right-to-repair policy changes.
- First, a higher resale value due to a longer usable life. Longer OS support and parts availability increase demand for refurbished units and reduce end-of-life write-offs.
- Better refurb yield for buyback and ITAD streams as more units can move from “parts-only” to “Grade A or B” through screen, battery, and housing repair.
- Shifts in timing, as longer refresh cycles can reduce short-term volume while raising per-unit recovery value.
- Greater price transparency and competition in repair because more repair providers can push down repair costs, changing repair-versus-replace decisions.
Expanding accessibility increases residual value, lowers repair costs, boosts the third-party market, and shifts focus from replacement to repair.
Why These Changes are Necessary
Repairing used IT assets prepares them for remarketing, and remarketing used devices creates sales channels for those seeking alternatives to new devices. Asset remarketing significantly reduces demand for new devices and the resources required to mine new metals for them. Device repair and reuse play a crucial role in circularity as a cohesive step in a circular economy. In a digital world, reuse is the primary way to preserve functional materials and extend the lifecycle of retired electronics by keeping them out of the waste stream.
Right-to-Repair legislation requires OEMs to loosen restrictions that prevent third-party repair shops from repairing electronics. Although it is a notoriously controversial subject, OEMs are becoming more open to the idea. Repair legislation also helps prevent consumers from attempting to repair devices at home, which could lead to battery fires and significant hardware damage.
Contact HOBI Today
Do you have a plan for your used IT hardware? Repair laws are changing, and remarketing decommissioned IT assets can help companies increase enterprise ROI and fund IT refresh cycles. As technology evolves rapidly, many organizations struggle to keep up. ITAD providers reduce stress by providing a proactive roadmap for successful IT asset disposition, including value recovery through repair, refurbishment, and resale.
Contact HOBI at 877-814-2620 or sales@hobi.com for more information about repair and refurbishment options.