The proposed bill introduces the Agricultural Right to Repair Act, which aims to enhance farmers' ability to repair their agricultural equipment by mandating that manufacturers provide owners and independent repair providers with access to necessary documentation, parts, and tools on fair and reasonable terms. The bill defines key terms such as "agricultural equipment," "authorized repair provider," and "independent repair provider," and outlines the obligations of original equipment manufacturers to ensure that these resources are available for the diagnosis, maintenance, and repair of agricultural equipment. Additionally, it specifies that manufacturers must provide access to special documentation and tools for equipment with electronic security features.

The bill also establishes enforcement mechanisms through the Attorney General, categorizing violations as unlawful practices under the West Virginia Unfair Trade Practices Act. It includes provisions to protect trade secrets and clarifies that existing agreements between authorized repair providers and manufacturers remain intact, except for any terms that attempt to limit compliance with the new requirements. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and applies to equipment sold or in use from that date forward.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 19-39-1, 19-39-2, 19-39-3, 19-39-4, 19-39-5, 19-39-6, 19-39-7