Rep. Brown files Right to Repair bill in North Carolina House

A new bill filed by State Rep. Terry M. Brown Jr. seeks to require manufacturers to provide repair information and tools to independent repair providers and owners on reasonable terms, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 938 on April 10 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Right to Repair Digital Electronics Act.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, known as the Right to Repair Digital Electronics Act, mandates that manufacturers of digital electronic products in North Carolina make diagnostic and repair information, service parts, and tools available to independent repair facilities and owners on fair and reasonable terms, similar to the access provided to authorized repair providers. Manufacturers must provide firmware updates, diagnostic software, and related documentation free of charge and may not withhold essential security-related information necessary for product repairs. However, manufacturers are not required to disclose trade secrets or proprietary formats unless standardized formats are unavailable. The bill allows owners or independent repair providers to file complaints if manufacturers do not comply, offering a 30-day period to resolve the issue. This act will take effect on Oct. 1, 2025.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, Brown proposed the most bills (33) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Brown graduated from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte with a BA and again in 2015 from Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Campbell University with a JD.

Brown, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 92nd House district, replacing previous state representative Chaz Beasley.