Iowa House passes ‘right to repair’ bill for farm equipment
Lawmakers argued “right to repair” legislation was needed ensure Iowa farmers can more easily repair their own agricultural equipment. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
April 27, 2026
The Iowa House passed a “right to repair” bill with bipartisan support Monday that aims to ensure Iowa farmers can more easily repair their own agricultural equipment.
House File 2763, passed 70-18, would require manufacturers of agricultural equipment to make documentation, parts, software, firmware and tools related to repairing or maintaining equipment available to independent repair facilities and equipment owners at “fair and reasonable terms and costs.”
The measure has been discussed as a potential way to provide some cost relief to farmers, who often have to go to dealerships to receive repairs, as certain tools or software are required to make the needed changes.
The Federal Trade Commission, as well a group of farmers, have brought legal challenges to Deere & Co. over this issue, complaining that technology needed to repair much of their equipment is available only to licensed John Deere dealers.
Rep. Derek Wulf, R-Hudson, who floor managed the bill, said the measure is vital to making sure Iowans can adequately maintain their farms and are not dependent on dealerships.
“Today, farmers are being told that they don’t have the right to fix their equipment they paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for,” Wulf said. “Think about that — you buy it, you depend on it, but when it breaks, you’re locked out. … When a machine goes down in the middle of planting our harvest, farmers don’t have the luxury of waiting days for a dealership technician to show up. Every hour costs money, every delay risks the entire crop, and yet, they’re forced to sit while their own equipment is essentially held hostage by software locks and corporate control.”
Rep. J.D. Scholten, D-Sioux City, compared the issue to other technology, like cars, that most Iowans depend on.
“The root of this bill is competition, it’s about having options,” Scholten said. “If my car needed an oil change, there’s about a dozen places in Sioux City that I can think of off the top of my head that I could bring my car to, or I could do it myself. Farmers on the other hand, don’t have that flexibility.”
Scholten said the measure will also improve Iowa’s agricultural economy, citing studies that found many farmers opt to purchase older equipment to avoid “right to repair” problems with new technology, and that this measure will save farmers money. He also said he did not believe the measure, if signed into law, would hurt Iowans’ access to this equipment, pointing to Colorado enacting a similar law in 2023.
“Since that time, have there been significant economic harm to dealers or manufacturers in Colorado? No,” Scholten said.
The bill was amended to include language that Wulf said would allow farmers to have ownership and confidentiality over data collected using their agricultural equipment. He said the measure reflects Iowa’s place as an “agriculture-first state,” and said the provision puts farmers first.
“‘Right to repair’ legislation is about drawing a line in the sand,” Wulf said. “It says, ‘if you bought it, you own it. You have the right to fix it, modify it, and keep it running without asking permission.’ Farmers built this country on independence and grit and self-reliance, now they’re being told they need a password and a corporate blessing to turn a wrench. That’s not just bad policy, that’s an insult.”
While the measure has passed the House, the proposal may not make it to the governor’s desk this session. The Senate has not considered a companion bill on the measure and would need to move the bill through the committee process before it would come to a vote — a tight timeline as legislative leaders aim to end the 2026 legislative session soon.
Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com.
