This bill, titled the Wheelchair Right to Repair Act, seeks to significantly expand the ability of individuals and independent repair providers to diagnose, maintain, and repair powered mobility assistance devices. It achieves this by amending Title 17 of the United States Code to establish a crucial exception to existing copyright protection systems. This exception explicitly permits the circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works, solely for the purpose of repairing or servicing these essential mobility devices.

The legislation defines "powered mobility assistance device" broadly, encompassing both motorized wheeled devices for individuals with physical disabilities and wearable robotic devices designed to enhance walking ability. Furthermore, the bill imposes a direct requirement on original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to provide all necessary documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and other tools to independent repair providers and device owners. This information and these tools must be made available in a timely manner and on fair and reasonable terms, including those needed to disable and reset security functions.

OEMs are also mandated to provide clear and conspicuous notice of these rights to both repair providers and owners, and to establish a public process for requesting such materials. Enforcement of these provisions falls under the purview of the Federal Trade Commission, treating violations as unfair or deceptive acts or practices. State Attorneys General are also granted authority to enforce the act, including seeking injunctions, civil penalties, and damages.

The bill clarifies that OEMs are not liable for damage or injury caused by independent repairers or owners, unless such issues stem from a design or manufacturing defect. It also ensures that the requirement to provide information does not compel OEMs to divulge trade secrets beyond what is necessary for repair, nor does it require them to sell parts that are no longer available.