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HB 2257

Changes the laws regarding consumer products so that certain individuals and businesses have a right to repair information from certain manufacturers

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Barry Hovis

HB 2257 gives owners and independent repair providers access to the same repair data, tools, and parts as manufacturers, boosting repairability and fair terms.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)
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Bill Summary · HB 2257

Summary of HB 2257 (Missouri, 2026)

Purpose and intent

HB 2257 establishes a right-to-repair framework for certain categories of products, primarily farm, construction, and forestry machinery. The bill ensures that owners and independent repair providers have access to the same diagnostic, repair, and maintenance information, tools, service parts, and documentation that manufacturers supply to their authorized repair providers. It aims to promote repairability, reduce downtime, and empower non-dealer repair options, while preserving manufacturer protections around trade secrets and existing warranties.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (Section 407.652):

    • Introduces terms including “authorized repair provider,” “independent repair provider,” “owner,” “product” (covering farm, construction, and forestry machinery with embedded/digital electronics), “documentation,” “service parts,” “tools,” “embedded software,” and “trade secret.”
    • Clarifies what constitutes “fair and reasonable terms” for parts, documentation, and tools.

  • Rights for owners and independent repair providers (Section 407.653, subsections 1-3):

    • Owners and independent repair providers may access the same diagnostic and repair information that manufacturers provide to authorized repair providers, delivered in the same manner and at the same time.
    • They may purchase service parts, documentation, and tools on fair and reasonable terms, including firmware updates for parts.
    • Upon acquisition of a product, owners must be informed of any changes or modifications made by previous owners.

  • Right to standardized formats (Section 407.653, subsection 2):

    • Authorized repair providers may receive diagnostic and service information in standardized formats if manufacturers already offer these to independent repair providers or third parties, provided the standardized format contains all required functionality (subject to exclusions for proprietary content).

  • Tools and security-related functions (Section 407.653, subsections 3-4):

    • Owners and independent repair providers can purchase diagnostic tools with the same capabilities as those used by the manufacturer or authorized providers.
    • For security functions (e.g., electronic locks), manufacturers must provide necessary tools, documentation, and parts to disable and reset locks in a secure system, on fair and reasonable terms.

  • Limitations and protections (Sections 407.653, 5-8):

    • Aftermarket tools and information providers are considered to have satisfied obligations; manufacturers are not responsible for aftermarket tool content.
    • If a product is under a valid warranty, manufacturers are not required to provide parts/tools under this act for that product during the warranty period.
    • Trade secrets need not be disclosed, except as necessary to provide required documentation, parts, and tools.

  • Enforcement and remedies (Section 407.653, subsections 9-13):

    • The Attorney General enforces the act.
    • Each violation carries a $10,000 fine, with proceeds allocated to schools.
    • A complaint process exists for owners/independent repair providers to seek cure and/or file in district court if the manufacturer fails to respond.

Who is affected

  • Primary targets: Owners of farm, construction, and forestry machinery and independent repair providers.
  • Secondary actors: Manufacturers of those products and their authorized repair networks.
  • Geographic scope: Products purchased or used in Missouri.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Referred to Emerging Issues (H) for consideration.
  • Previous iterations of similar bills exist (HB 146, 2025; HB 2475, 2024).
  • Enactment would add new penalties and a formal complaint/enforcement framework administered by the Missouri Attorney General.

Overall, HB 2257 expands access to repair information and tools for non-manufacturer parties, with mechanisms to address noncompliance and safeguard proprietary information.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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