PRIA Logo™
HR5039119th CongressWALLET

Wheelchair Right to Repair Act

Sponsored By: Representative Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a narrow right-to-repair for powered mobility assistance devices (PMADs). This bill would let owners and independent repair providers bypass security locks and access the parts, embedded software, firmware, documentation, and tools needed to diagnose, maintain, and repair motorized wheelchairs and wearable walking-assist devices.

Show full summary
  • Owners and independent repair providers: Would be allowed to circumvent technological protections and obtain or make the technologies, parts, and tools needed to diagnose, maintain, or repair PMADs.
  • Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs): Would have to provide documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and repair tools on fair and reasonable terms and post clear notices and a standard request process within 90 days.
  • Enforcement and liability: Would let the Federal Trade Commission treat violations as unfair or deceptive acts and allow state attorneys general to sue for compliance and penalties. OEMs and authorized repairers would be shielded from liability for repair-caused damage unless a design or manufacturing defect caused the harm.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Manufacturers must share wheelchair repair tools

This bill would require makers of powered wheelchairs and similar devices to give owners and independent shops the manuals, parts, and software needed to fix them on fair and reasonable terms. Makers would also have to provide tools to disable and reset security locks during repair, possibly through a secure system. Makers would not have to sell parts that no longer exist, and trade secrets would stay protected except as needed for repairs. Within 90 days of enactment, makers would have to notify owners and shops, publish a request process, and include clear rights notices with new purchases; owners and independent shops would share a user-rights notice. Any contract that tries to waive these duties would be void, and the FTC and states could enforce the rules; the FTC would also educate repair providers within 90 days.

Unlock digital locks to fix wheelchairs

This bill would let you bypass a digital lock on a powered mobility device when done to diagnose, maintain, or repair it. It would also let companies make, import, and sell the tools used for those fixes. These permissions would only apply for diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of these devices.

Limits on maker liability for DIY repairs

This bill would limit a maker’s or authorized shop’s liability for harm caused by an owner or independent shop during a repair. It would not shield liability for design or manufacturing defects. For owners, this could reduce some legal claims if a DIY or third-party repair goes wrong.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]

FL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 8/26/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation