Manufacturers would share digital product repair materials with independent shops

Manufacturers would share repair instructions, parts, and tools they provide to authorized repair shops with owners and independent repair businesses. Covered products rely partly or fully on digital electronics. Owners include lessees. Independent repair businesses must work in Alaska and cannot be manufacturers, hold manufacturer repair licenses or contracts, or be affiliated with businesses that hold them. Medical devices, federally certified road vehicles and their parts, and critical infrastructure and related equipment would be exempt. Exemptions also cover fire and life safety systems, professionally monitored intrusion alarms, and physical access controls. Manufacturers would not have to disclose trade secrets or supply parts no longer available to them. Required materials would include software updates and tools to reset security features disabled during repairs. Manufacturers could use secure systems to provide access. If enacted, these requirements would take effect January 1, 2029, and apply to products sold or leased in Alaska on or after that date.

Manufacturers would follow price and access rules when supplying repair materials to owners and independent repair businesses. These rules would cover repair materials for products included in the repair-access requirements. Tools would generally be free, and manufacturers could not hinder their repair functions. Manufacturers could charge reasonable actual costs for physical tools and copies of instructions. Parts would generally receive the best terms offered to authorized shops. Prices for the same materials could not exceed authorized-shop prices after discounts, rebates, and incentives. Parts for powersports vehicles, powered work equipment, and devices that produce or store power would instead have reasonable prices and terms. For commercial or industrial equipment, manufacturers could require reasonable training, certification, or skills checks before giving access that permits changes to safety or critical systems. They could control secure-system access and sell parts as assemblies when authorized shops receive them that way. If enacted, these rules would apply to covered products sold or leased in Alaska on or after January 1, 2029.

Violations would count as unlawful acts under Alaska’s consumer protection law. Agreements could not waive manufacturers’ repair-access duties. These provisions would govern manufacturers’ duties and responsibility for harm caused by owners or independent repairers. Manufacturers and authorized repair shops could not be held responsible in civil lawsuits for damage or injuries caused by owners or independent repairers during diagnosis, maintenance, or repair. The requirements would not alter lease or commercial contract terms. License and contract terms in effect immediately before the effective date would also be protected. Manufacturers would not have to share information other than repair documentation that authorized shops receive under a manufacturer license or contract. If enacted, these provisions would take effect January 1, 2029.