Texas Right to Repair Law: What HB 2963 Covers and Excludes
Short answer
Yes. Texas has a digital right to repair law, House Bill 2963, now Business and Commerce Code ch. 121. It took effect September 1, 2026 and covers only devices first offered for sale in Texas on or after that date. Makers must sell parts, tools and manuals on fair and reasonable terms.
Last verified November 5, 2026 against current Texas law
The Texas right to repair law is new, and most people searching for it want to know one thing: does it cover the phone, laptop or tablet I already own? Usually it does not. The law is real and now in force, but it reaches forward, not back. This guide explains what it requires, which devices count, what is left out, how it is enforced and where Texas repair rules for cars, farm gear and homes sit instead.
| Law | House Bill 2963 (2025), added as Business and Commerce Code ch. 121 |
|---|---|
| Effective date | September 1, 2026 |
| Devices covered | Digital electronic equipment sold to a consumer in Texas with a wholesale price of at least $50, first offered for sale here on or after September 1, 2026 |
| What makers must provide | Documentation, replacement parts and tools on fair and reasonable terms |
| Who enforces it | The Texas Attorney General only, after a 30-day notice to fix |
| Can you sue? | No. The law creates no private right of action |
What does the Texas right to repair law require?
It requires the company that makes a covered device to give owners and independent repair shops the same repair materials it gives its own authorized shops. Under Business and Commerce Code § 121.051, the maker must offer the documentation, replacement parts and tools needed to diagnose, maintain and repair the device no later than one year after its first sale.
Access can come directly from the maker or through an authorized repair provider or another third party. The terms must be fair and reasonable, which the statute defines. Documentation is free apart from the actual cost of printed copies. Tools cannot be tied to being an authorized repairer. Parts must cost about what authorized shops pay.
There is also a way out for makers. Under § 121.053, instead of supplying repair materials, a maker can refund the original buyer’s purchase price or give an equal or better replacement, at the buyer’s choice.
Which devices does the law cover?
The statute covers digital electronic equipment, meaning any product that depends wholly or partly on digital electronics built into or attached to it. Under § 121.002, it applies to equipment sold to a consumer in Texas that has a wholesale price of at least $50. In practice that reaches smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktop computers, televisions and wearables such as smartwatches and fitness trackers.
The date matters most. A transition section limits the chapter to equipment that was originally made available for sale in Texas by the maker on or after September 1, 2026. A phone, laptop or TV launched before that date stays outside the law, even if you bought it last month.
What is excluded from the Texas right to repair law?
Section 121.002(b) leaves out several categories. The main ones are:
- Video game consoles
- Medical devices and products used in a medical setting
- Motor vehicles, where the maker follows a repair agreement, plus powersports vehicles and outboard motors
- Farm equipment, where the maker follows a repair agreement
- Heavy equipment and commercial or industrial electrical equipment
- Large home appliances with embedded electronics, such as refrigerators, ovens and air conditioners (small countertop appliances are not excluded)
- Fire alarm, life safety and monitored intrusion detection equipment
- Aerospace, airplane and train equipment
- Emergency service safety communications equipment and critical infrastructure IT equipment
Limits on what makers must hand over
The law does not force a maker to give away everything. Under § 121.052, a maker does not have to reveal trade secrets beyond what repair needs, supply source code, or provide anything that would disable or override security locks or anti-theft measures. A maker may still require remote authorization or an internet connection before a part or tool works.
The enrolled text has no standalone ban on parts pairing, the practice of tying a replacement part to one device by software. Repair advocates may raise that in the next regular session, which begins in January 2027, but no bill has changed the law yet. Makers also are not liable for damage caused by independent repairs, under § 121.054.
How the Texas right to repair law is enforced
Only the attorney general can enforce it. Under § 121.101, the office must give written notice at least 30 days before suing, and no action goes forward if the maker fixes the problem in that window and confirms in writing it will not repeat it. A violation after that point is a deceptive trade practice actionable under Business and Commerce Code ch. 17, subch. E, and the attorney general can seek an injunction plus attorney’s fees and investigation costs.
Consumers cannot sue under the chapter. Section 121.104 bars private lawsuits, so the practical step if a maker refuses to sell a part is to file a complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s consumer protection division. A contract clause that waives the maker’s duties is void under § 121.003.
Timeline of the Texas repair law
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Spring 2025 | HB 2963 clears the House and Senate, and both chambers adopt the final conference report as the session ends in early June 2025 |
| June 2025 | Gov. Greg Abbott signs the bill |
| September 1, 2026 | Chapter 121 takes effect for devices first offered for sale in Texas on or after this date |
| Within one year of first sale | Makers must have parts, tools and documentation available for each covered device |
| January 2027 | Next regular legislative session begins |
Real situations: does the law help you?
Your phone was bought in 2024 and the screen cracked
The law does not apply. The phone was offered for sale before September 1, 2026, so Chapter 121 does not reach it. You can still use any independent shop, and federal warranty law still stops a maker from voiding a warranty only because you used a third-party part, under 15 U.S.C. § 2302(c) in most cases.
You buy a new laptop in December 2026 that launched in October
The law applies if the laptop reached the Texas market on or after September 1, 2026 and its wholesale price is at least $50. The maker has up to one year after the first sale to make parts, tools and manuals available, so a shop may need to wait for that window to open on a brand-new model.
An independent shop cannot get a part for a covered tablet
Ask the maker or its authorized provider in writing. If access is still refused, file an attorney general consumer complaint. The office must give the maker 30 days to fix the problem before it can sue.
Myths vs. facts about Texas repair rights
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| “Texas lets me repair any device I own.” | You can always try, but the law forces makers to supply materials only for covered devices first offered for sale on or after September 1, 2026. |
| “Car makers must share diagnostics under this law.” | Motor vehicles are excluded when the maker follows a repair agreement. |
| “I can sue a company that refuses.” | Only the attorney general can enforce the chapter. |
| “Every gadget is covered.” | Devices under a $50 wholesale price, game consoles, medical devices and large appliances are out. |
Repair liens and homestead protection: the other Texas repair rules
For cars, houses and other property, Texas relies on different laws. A repair shop that fixes your vehicle can hold it until you pay under the repairman’s lien in Property Code ch. 70. See our guide to the Texas Lemon Law if a new vehicle keeps failing repairs.
Contractors who improve your land or home can file a mechanic’s lien under Property Code ch. 53. A homestead gets extra protection. The Texas Constitution, art. XVI, § 50, limits liens on a homestead for repair or renovation work. The contract must be in writing with both spouses’ consent, it generally cannot be signed until the fifth day after you apply for credit for the work, and you get a three-day right to cancel. Property Code § 53.254 adds that a homestead repair contract must be signed in writing before the work or materials begin. These rules are about paying for repairs, not about a right to get parts. Our everyday life and property rights guides cover related topics, and our driving and vehicle law guides cover car repair rules.
Frequently asked questions
Does Texas have a right to repair law?
Yes. House Bill 2963 added Chapter 121 to the Business and Commerce Code and took effect September 1, 2026. It requires makers of covered digital electronics to make parts, tools and documentation available to owners and independent repair shops on fair and reasonable terms.
Does the Texas right to repair law cover my current phone?
Usually not. The chapter applies only to equipment first made available for sale in Texas by the maker on or after September 1, 2026. A phone sold before that date is outside the law, though independent shops can still repair it.
Does the law cover cars and tractors?
No in most cases. Motor vehicles and farm equipment are excluded when the maker follows an industry-recognized repair agreement. Powersports vehicles, outboard motors and heavy equipment are also excluded.
Can I sue a manufacturer that will not sell me a part?
No. Section 121.104 bars private lawsuits. Only the Texas Attorney General can enforce Chapter 121, and the office must give the maker written notice and 30 days to fix the problem first.
What price of device is covered?
The chapter covers digital electronic equipment with a wholesale price of at least $50, sold to a consumer in Texas. Wholesale price means the price the maker charges sellers, so the shelf price is usually higher.
Does the law ban software locks on replacement parts?
No. The enrolled text has no standalone parts pairing ban, and makers do not have to override security locks. They may require remote authorization or an internet connection before a part or tool works.
What changed on this page
November 5, 2026: Published. Covers the September 1, 2026 effective date of House Bill 2963, the devices and exclusions in Chapter 121, and attorney general enforcement.
If this affects you: if a maker refuses to sell a repair part for a covered device, file a consumer complaint with the Texas Attorney General. For a dispute over a repair bill or a lien on your property, speak with a Texas-licensed consumer protection or real estate attorney. This guide is general legal information, not advice for your situation. Read how we research every guide in our editorial policy, or report an error.
