Texas protected the right to repair electronics; drivers deserve the same freedom

Robert Whitaker is a Hansford County commissioner in the Texas Panhandle and works in the agriculture industry.

This September, a new Texas law takes effect that recognizes a commonsense principle: when people own a product, they should have access to the information and tools needed to repair it.

The law requires manufacturers of consumer electronics to make the parts, tools and documentation needed to repair devices like smartphones, laptops and tablets more readily available. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the legislation last year, making Texas the first Republican-led state to enact a statewide right-to-repair law.