Colorado Leads Right To Repair Movement

"I'm not going to throw away a $200 blender because the $5 part that broke can't be replaced," said a visitor to the Longmont Repair Café, summing up the frustration that drives people to fight for the right to repair their stuff. Across Colorado, folks are seeking out places to learn how to fix their belongings, rather than discarding them. The monthly Repair Café in Longmont is one such spot — a warehouse where expert tinkerers volunteer their time to help people fix everything from dresses to oscilloscopes.

Make no mistake, this is not just about saving money or reducing waste — it's about challenging the culture of consumption. CE Raum, founder of the Longmont Repair Café, puts it bluntly: "Most people can fix things. What they lack is the confidence to pick up a screwdriver and start taking it apart." The Repair Café is part of a global right-to-repair movement, pressuring manufacturers to provide tools and instructions for fixing everyday items.

In Colorado, this movement has led to significant legislative changes. In 2022, the state passed a bill allowing consumers to bring powered wheelchairs to independent repair shops. The following year, that right was extended to agricultural equipment. And in 2024, a law required makers of digital equipment to allow independent repairs, preventing manufacturers from installing parts that reduce functionality or trigger misleading alerts about third-party parts.

However, a new bill, Senate Bill 90; is moving through the Capitol, and it's raising concerns among consumer protection groups. The bill would exempt technology equipment used in critical infrastructure from the state's right-to-repair laws, citing cybersecurity threats and intellectual property infringement. But opponents argue that the definition of "critical infrastructure" is too broad, effectively giving manufacturers the power to decide what can and can't be repaired.

The short version: this bill has the potential to undo some of the progress made in the right-to-repair movement. Groups like CoPIRG, the Repair Association, and iFixit are testifying against the bill, while companies like Cisco, IBM, and TechNet are supporting it. Worth watching: how this bill will be received in the House, and what it will mean for consumers who want to fix their own stuff.

In the meantime, people are still looking for places to learn how to repair their belongings. About a dozen repair events like the one in Longmont are happening across the state. These events are not just about fixing things - they're about building a community of people who value self-sufficiency and sustainability. As one visitor noted, "I'd rather learn how to fix my own stuff than rely on someone else to do it for me."

The community is growing, with more people seeking out resources and support for DIY repairs. But the fight is far from over. As the right-to-repair movement continues to push against manufacturer-friendly laws, it's clear that the outcome will have significant implications for consumers and the environment. Read that again: the outcome will have significant implications. The question is, what will those implications be?

For now, CE Raum's initiative remains a beacon for those seeking to repair, rather than replace. And as CE Raum said, "It's not going to be more broken than it already is if you try to fix it." That's a sentiment that resonates with many. and one that will continue to drive the right-to-repair movement forward.

As the bill moves through the House, the community will be watching to see what happens next, and they'll continue to seek out resources and support for DIY repairs. The right-to-repair movement is not just about fixing stuff, it's about taking control, and that's something that folks around here are willing to fight for.