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Bill

LC 4348

Provide for the agricultural emissions right to repair act

2025 Regular Session

Montana bill establishing right-to-repair protections for agricultural equipment to enable farmer self-service maintenance and reduce manufacturer repair monopolies.

(LC) Draft Delivered to Requester
#agriculture(seealso:livestock;taxation--agriculture/livestock)
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Bill Summary · LC 4348

Legislative bill overview

LC 4348 is a Montana bill in early draft stages that appears to establish "right to repair" protections specifically for agricultural equipment, enabling farmers to repair their own machinery without manufacturer restrictions. The bill likely addresses concerns about proprietary repair monopolies and software locks that prevent independent servicing of farm equipment.

Why is this important

Agricultural equipment represents significant capital investment for farmers, and manufacturer-imposed repair restrictions can force costly downtime and dependence on authorized dealers. Enabling independent repair access could reduce operational costs, improve equipment availability during critical farming seasons, and support rural economies by empowering local repair shops.

Potential points of contention

  • Manufacturer concerns: Equipment makers may argue that allowing unrestricted repairs compromises safety, warranty validity, and intellectual property protections embedded in modern farm machinery software
  • Environmental/emissions standards: The bill's focus on "agricultural emissions" may attempt to balance repair access with environmental compliance, potentially creating complex requirements around emissions-compliant repairs
  • Scope and definitions: Disputes likely over what constitutes "right to repair" (parts access, diagnostic tools, software access, labor standards) and which equipment qualifies as agricultural

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

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