Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

HF 1156

1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/19/2022 11:23am

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.

Current Version - 1st Engrossment

Line numbers 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4
1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30 2.31 2.32 2.33 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 3.21 3.22 3.23 3.24 3.25 3.26 3.27 3.28 3.29 3.30 3.31 3.32 3.33 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 5.1 5.2
5.3

A bill for an act
relating to commerce; providing for digital fair repair; providing penalties;
proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 325E.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [325E.72] DIGITAL FAIR REPAIR.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Short title. new text end

new text begin This act may be cited as the "Digital Fair Repair Act."
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the
meanings given them.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Authorized repair provider" means an individual or business who is unaffiliated
with an original equipment manufacturer and who has (1) an arrangement with the original
equipment manufacturer, for a definite or indefinite period, under which the original
equipment manufacturer grants to the individual or business a license to use a trade name,
service mark, or other proprietary identifier to offer the services of diagnosis, maintenance,
or repair of digital electronic equipment under the name of the original equipment
manufacturer, or (2) other arrangement with the original equipment manufacturer to offer
diagnostic, maintenance, or repair services on behalf of the original equipment manufacturer.
An original equipment manufacturer that offers diagnostic, maintenance, or repair services
for the original equipment manufacturer's digital electronic equipment is considered an
authorized repair provider with respect to the digital electronic equipment if the original
equipment manufacturer does not have an arrangement described in this paragraph with an
unaffiliated individual or business.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Digital electronic equipment" or "equipment" means any product that depends for
its functioning, in whole or in part, on digital electronics embedded in or attached to the
product.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Documentation" means a manual, diagram, reporting output, service code description,
schematic diagram, or similar information provided to an authorized repair provider to affect
the services of diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of digital electronic equipment.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Embedded software" means any programmable instructions provided on firmware
delivered with digital electronic equipment or with a part for the equipment to operate
equipment. Embedded software includes all relevant patches and fixes made by the
manufacturer of the equipment or part for these purposes.
new text end

new text begin (f) "Fair and reasonable terms" for obtaining a part, tool, or documentation means at
costs and terms, including convenience of delivery and rights of use, equivalent to what is
offered by the original equipment manufacturer to an authorized repair provider, using the
net costs that would be incurred by an authorized repair provider to obtain an equivalent
part, tool, or documentation from the original equipment manufacturer, accounting for any
discounts, rebates, or other incentive programs in arriving at the actual net costs. For
documentation, including any relevant updates, "fair and reasonable terms" means at no
charge, except that when the documentation is requested in physical printed form a fee for
the reasonable actual costs to prepare and send the copy may be charged.
new text end

new text begin (g) "Firmware" means a software program or set of instructions programmed on digital
electronic equipment or on a part for the equipment to allow the equipment or part to
communicate with other computer hardware.
new text end

new text begin (h) "Independent repair provider" means an individual or business operating in Minnesota
that (1) does not have an arrangement described in paragraph (b) with an original equipment
manufacturer, (2) is not affiliated with any individual or business that has an arrangement
described in paragraph (b), and (3) is engaged in the services of diagnosis, maintenance, or
repair of digital electronic equipment. An original equipment manufacturer or, with respect
to the original equipment manufacturer, an individual or business that has an arrangement
with the original equipment manufacturer or is affiliated with an individual or business that
has such an arrangement with that original equipment manufacturer is considered an
independent repair provider for purposes of the instances it engages in the services of
diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of digital electronic equipment that is not manufactured
by or sold under the name of the original equipment manufacturer.
new text end

new text begin (i) "Manufacturer of motor vehicle equipment" means a business engaged in the business
of manufacturing or supplying components used to manufacture, maintain, or repair a motor
vehicle.
new text end

new text begin (j) "Motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is designed to transport persons or property on
a street or highway and is certified by the manufacturer under all applicable federal safety
and emissions standards and requirements for distribution and sale in the United States.
Motor vehicle does not include:
new text end

new text begin (1) a motorcycle; or
new text end

new text begin (2) a recreational vehicle or an auto home equipped for habitation.
new text end

new text begin (k) "Motor vehicle dealer" means an individual or business that, in the ordinary course
of business, (1) is engaged in the business of selling or leasing new motor vehicles to an
individual or business pursuant to a franchise agreement, (2) has obtained a license under
section 168.27, and (3) is engaged in the services of diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of
motor vehicles or motor vehicle engines pursuant to the franchise agreement.
new text end

new text begin (l) "Motor vehicle manufacturer" means a business engaged in the business of
manufacturing or assembling new motor vehicles.
new text end

new text begin (m) "Original equipment manufacturer" means a business engaged in the business of
selling or leasing to any individual or business new digital electronic equipment manufactured
by or on behalf of the original equipment manufacturer.
new text end

new text begin (n) "Owner" means an individual or business that owns or leases digital electronic
equipment purchased or used in Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (o) "Part" means any replacement part, either new or used, made available by an original
equipment manufacturer to affect the services of maintenance or repair of digital electronic
equipment manufactured or sold by the original equipment manufacturer.
new text end

new text begin (p) "Trade secret" has the meaning given in section 325C.01, subdivision 5.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) For digital electronic equipment and parts for the equipment
sold or used in Minnesota, an original equipment manufacturer must make available on fair
and reasonable terms documentation, parts, and tools, inclusive of any updates to information
or embedded software, to any independent repair provider or to the owner of digital electronic
equipment manufactured by or on behalf of, or sold by, the original equipment manufacturer
for purposes of diagnosis, maintenance, or repair. Nothing in this section requires an original
equipment manufacturer to make available a part if the part is no longer available to the
original equipment manufacturer.
new text end

new text begin (b) For equipment that contains an electronic security lock or other security-related
function, the original equipment manufacturer must make available to the owner and to
independent repair providers, on fair and reasonable terms, any special documentation,
tools, and parts needed to reset the lock or function when disabled in the course of diagnosis,
maintenance, or repair of the equipment. Documentation, tools, and parts may be made
available through appropriate secure release systems.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Enforcement by attorney general. new text end

new text begin A violation of this section is an unlawful
practice under section 325D.44. All remedies, penalties, and authority granted to the attorney
general under chapter 8 are available to the attorney general to enforce this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Limitations. new text end

new text begin (a) Nothing in this section requires an original equipment
manufacturer to divulge a trade secret to an owner or an independent service provider,
except as necessary to provide documentation, parts, and tools on fair and reasonable terms.
new text end

new text begin (b) Nothing in this section alters the terms of any arrangement described in subdivision
2, paragraph (b), in force between an authorized repair provider and an original equipment
manufacturer, including but not limited to the performance or provision of warranty or recall
repair work by an authorized repair provider on behalf of an original equipment manufacturer
pursuant to such arrangement. A provision in the terms of an arrangement described in
subdivision 2, paragraph (b), that purports to waive, avoid, restrict, or limit the original
equipment manufacturer's obligations to comply with this section is void and unenforceable.
new text end

new text begin (c) Nothing in this section requires an original equipment manufacturer or an authorized
repair provider to provide to an owner or independent repair provider access to information,
other than documentation, that is provided by the original equipment manufacturer to an
authorized repair provider pursuant to the terms of an arrangement described in subdivision
2, paragraph (b).
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Exclusions. new text end

new text begin (a) Nothing in this section applies to (1) a motor vehicle
manufacturer, manufacturer of motor vehicle equipment, or motor vehicle dealer acting in
that capacity, or (2) any product or service of a motor vehicle manufacturer, manufacturer
of motor vehicle equipment, or motor vehicle dealer acting in that capacity.
new text end

new text begin (b) Nothing in this section applies to manufacturers or distributors of a medical device
as defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, codified at United States Code,
title 21, section 301 et seq., or a digital electronic product or software manufactured for use
in a medical setting including diagnostic, monitoring, or control equipment or any product
or service that they offer.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Applicability. new text end

new text begin This section applies to equipment sold or in use on or after
January 1, 2022.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2023.
new text end