Alaska Lawmakers Push Right-to-Repair Bills

0:00It's April 26th. Anchorage news today starts now. AI powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Alaska lawmakers are pushing two right-to-repair bills, one in the Senate and one in the House, to make it easier for independent shops to fix digital, gear-like phones, computers, and even snow machines. These bills would force manufacturers to share parts, tools, and software with local repair folks, updating the state's unfair trade practices law too. Cover a wide range of products while skipping cars, medical gear, and critical infrastructure. Supporters, including sponsors like Senator Forest Dunbar and Representative Maxine DeBair, argue it cuts electronic waste folks dump about. 47 pounds per person yearly and saves Alaskan's cash and time in a state that's basically a repair desert far from authorized spots. Tech giants like Apple and Amazon push back, saying the laws are too broad, letting untrained techs mess with complex stuff and risking safety, unlike. Narrow rules and states like New York. Both bills

1:05sitting committee as the session winds down, with backers hopeful for a floor vote, but leadership isn't rushing, it could be a game-changer. For moat fixes if it passes, keeping more gear alive up north.