AUGUSTA - Rep. Lydia Crafts, D-Newcastle, introduced legislation Tuesday before the Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Businesses Committee that would better protect Maine consumers by requiring electronics manufacturers to provide information about how fixable their products are through a repairability score.
LD 1716 would require manufacturers to display a repair score from zero to 10 that would be featured on the product itself or in close proximity to pricing information. The repair scoring system would evaluate various factors, including the ease of disassembly, the availability and pricing of spare parts and access to repair documentation. To facilitate a smooth transition, the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) would engage in outreach efforts with manufacturers, offering technical assistance. Additionally, DECD would adopt the necessary rules for properly implementing and administering the system.
"Many phones and laptops currently on the market are difficult to fix by design," said Crafts. "Manufacturers often use glue instead of screws, don't provide any repair instructions or won't sell spare parts. These intentional hurdles drive up the cost of repairs and produce mountains of electronic waste. By affording consumers more of an ability to repair their electronics, this legislation puts power back into the hands of hardworking Mainers and promotes a culture of sustainability."
France implemented a similar system in 2021, which has produced promising research from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group that found that families could save $382 per year if they could repair, instead of replace, their technology. Furthermore, score requirements have been shown to incentivize manufacturers to build better products, with the scores of phones and laptops actually increasing since the systems introduction.
Samsung's own research found that 86% of surveyed consumers in France report that the repair scoring impacts purchasing behavior including eight out of 10 who indicated they would give up their favorite brand in favor of a more repairable product.
The Innovation, Development, Economic Advancement and Business Committee will hold a work session on the bill in the coming weeks.
Rep. Crafts is serving her second term in the Maine House and represents Bristol, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Nobleboro and Monhegan Plantation. She is House chair of the Legislature's Transportation Committee.