Senate Bill 90 exempts critical infrastructure tech from Colorado right-to-repair laws
Updated
Updated · The Colorado Sun · Apr 26
Senate Bill 90 exempts critical infrastructure tech from Colorado right-to-repair laws
9 articles · Updated · The Colorado Sun · Apr 26
The bill passed the Colorado Senate 22-13 on April 16 and awaits House deliberation, with support from Cisco, IBM, and TechNet.
Supporters argue exemptions are needed for cybersecurity and intellectual property, while consumer groups like CoPIRG and iFixit warn the broad definition could undermine previous repair rights.
Colorado's right-to-repair laws, expanded since 2022, have empowered consumers and fueled grassroots repair initiatives, but advocates fear Senate Bill 90 could reverse recent progress and limit independent repairs.
Is Colorado’s new bill a security shield or a trojan horse for the right-to-repair movement?
Could a new Colorado bill label your smart fridge 'critical infrastructure,' blocking your repair rights?
As Europe mandates easier repairs, why does the U.S. face such strong corporate pushback?
In an age of software locks and digital keys, do you truly own the devices you buy?
Beyond saving gadgets from the dump, how are Repair Cafés rebuilding local communities?
The Cybersecurity Debate Behind Colorado’s Controversial Right-to-Repair Exemption
Overview
Colorado's Senate Bill 26-090, passed by the Senate in April 2026, proposes a broad exemption from the state's 2024 right-to-repair law for IT equipment labeled as critical infrastructure. Supported by manufacturers like Cisco and IBM, the bill claims to protect cybersecurity by limiting repairs to authorized technicians. However, opponents warn that the vague exemption lets manufacturers self-certify nearly all equipment as critical, creating monopolies that exclude independent repair shops, raise costs for hospitals and consumers, and increase electronic waste. The bill's weak oversight and rapid progress have sparked significant controversy, with concerns that its passage could set a damaging national precedent undermining repair rights and competition.