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The Iowa House of Representatives passed a “right-to-repair” bill intended to make it easier for farmers to repair their own equipment. H.F. 2373 received bipartisan support with a 70-18 vote. This legislation would require equipment manufacturers to make documentation, parts, software, firmware, and tools related to repairing or maintaining equipment available to independent repair facilities and equipment owners at fair and reasonable terms and costs.

Representative Derek Wulf, a Republican representative and a farmer/rancher from Black Hawk County, who floor managed the bill, said the legislation is necessary to make sure Iowa farmers can maintain their operations without depending on dealerships.

“Today, farmers are being told that they don’t have the right to fix their equipment they paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for. Think about that — you buy it, you depend on it, but when it breaks, you’re locked out,” said Wulf. “Right-to-repair’ legislation is about drawing a line in the sand,” Wulf said. “It says, ‘if you bought it, you own it. You have the right to fix it, modify it, and keep it running without asking permission.’ Farmers built this country on independence and grit and self-reliance, now they’re being told they need a password and a corporate blessing to turn a wrench.”

Iowa Farmers Union Response

Iowa Farmers Union praised Iowa House passage of the legislation. “Farmers Union has been a longtime advocate of right to repair issues,” said Aaron Lehman, president of the Iowa Farmers Union and a fifth-generation farmer.  “Farmers are facing rising costs across the board, including repair costs. Allowing farmers to fix their own equipment is common sense. Farmers have a passion for growing things on their farms. This bill allows us to fix our own equipment as efficiently and as quickly as possible during busy planting and harvesting seasons.” 

Farmers have traditionally repaired their own farm equipment, which has been complicated by proprietary diagnostic software.

“If the farmer has the skill and purchases a perfectly good replacement part, nothing should stand in their way of making their own repair and getting back to work,” Lehman said.  “Software gatekeepers should stay off the farm unless invited.”

The next steps depend on timing. The Iowa Senate has yet to consider a companion bill, and with time winding down, the legislation may not reach the governor’s desk this session.

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