(The Center Square) – A settlement between John Deere and Co. and four states over right-to-repair laws could have implications for other states, including Georgia, according to the National Federation for Independent Businesses.
The equipment company agreed to provide independent shop owners with the same equipment and repair resources as John Deere authorized dealers, in the deal made with the company and the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Arizona and Minnesota, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
“As you know, small businesses are the backbone of the nation, and especially here in Georgia and you’ve got small auto repair shops, farm equipment shops that aren’t able to serve their local communities just because of the way the law has been in the past,” said Hunter Loggins, Georgia Director for the National Federation for Independent Business. “We’ve been encouraged lately by the decision with John Deere and the implications that might come from that.”
Right-to-repair laws also give small businesses more choices about where they get their electronic, agricultural or other types of equipment fixed, according to Loggins.
“Previously, you’re just kind of pigeonholed into just the dealership and then they could obviously charge whatever they want,” Loggins said.
Nine states have right-to-repair laws, according to Nathan Proctor, Senior Director, for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s campaign for the right-to-repair.
“There have been many efforts over the last 8 years or so to pass right-to-repair in Georgia for electronics and farm equipment, some led by Democrats and some by Republicans – though industry opposition has stalled progress,” Proctor wrote in an email to The Center Square.
Federal issues also stalled the legislation, according to Loggins.
“A lot of these companies work across state lines so it needed to be addressed federally and at the court level,” Loggins said. “After this decision, it kind of sets and paves the way for more states to try to do something about it.”
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper called the settlement with John Deere a win for state farmers.
“In America, when you buy a piece of farm equipment, it is yours, and you have the right to repair your own equipment however you see fit,” Harper said in a social media post.