House Bill No. [insert bill number] introduces the "Montana Agricultural Equipment Repair Bill of Rights Act," which aims to enhance the rights of owners and independent repair providers regarding agricultural equipment. The bill mandates that original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) must provide documentation, parts, and tools necessary for the diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of agricultural equipment on fair and reasonable terms. This includes making these resources available directly or through authorized repair providers. The bill also prohibits OEMs from using practices such as parts pairing to restrict repairs and requires them to provide access to special documentation and tools needed to deactivate electronic locks for repairs.

Additionally, the bill outlines limitations on the obligations of OEMs, ensuring they are not required to disclose trade secrets or provide certain documentation that would compromise security measures without owner authorization. It specifies that OEMs and authorized repair providers are not liable for damages caused by independent repair providers or owners during repairs, except in cases of design or manufacturing defects. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, and includes a provision for termination if federal legislation establishing a right to repair agricultural equipment is enacted.