Illinois Valley Times

Amy Briel introduced HB1909 in the Illinois House on Jan. 29, 2025, during the general assembly session 104, according to the Illinois General Assembly.

According to the Illinois General Assembly site, the legislature summarized the bill's official text as follows: "Creates the Agricultural Equipment Repair Bill of Rights Act. Provides that, for the purpose of providing services for agricultural equipment in the State, an original equipment manufacturer shall, with fair and reasonable terms and costs, make available to an independent repair provider or owner of the manufacturer's equipment any documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools that are intended for use with the equipment or any part, including updates to documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools. Provides that, with respect to agricultural equipment that contains an electronic security lock or other security-related function, a manufacturer shall, with fair and reasonable terms and costs, make available to independent repair providers and owners any documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools needed to reset the lock or function when disabled in the course of providing services. Provides that the manufacturer may make the documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools available to independent repair providers and owners through appropriate secure release systems. Provides that these provisions do not apply to a part that is no longer available to the original equipment manufacturer or conduct that would require the manufacturer to divulge a trade secret. Provides that a manufacturer shall not refuse to make available to an independent repair provider or owner any documentation, part, embedded software, firmware, or tool necessary to provide services on grounds that the documentation, part, embedded software, firmware, or tool itself is a trade secret, except that information necessary to repair agricultural equipment may not be redacted. Provides exceptions. Defines terms."

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill, titled the Agricultural Equipment Repair Bill of Rights Act, mandates that original equipment manufacturers must provide independent repair providers and equipment owners with access to necessary documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, and tools to service agricultural equipment under fair and reasonable terms and costs. This includes updates and components related to equipment security features. Manufacturers can use secure systems for distribution but must not claim trade secrets to deny access unless removing such information does not impair service. Exemptions include obsolete parts and broader trade secrets not relevant to repair. Liability is limited for manufacturers concerning improper repairs by independent providers. Existing contracts between manufacturers and authorized repairers remain unaffected unless non-compliance with the Act arises. The law aligns with any national right-to-repair agreements ensuring access to essential repair resources despite such agreements.

Amy Briel has proposed another five bills since the beginning of the 104th session.

Briel graduated from Illinois State University in 1998.

Amy Briel is currently serving in the Illinois State House, representing the state's 76th House District. She replaced previous state representative Lance Yednock in 2025.

Bills in Illinois follow a multi-step legislative process, beginning with introduction in either the House or Senate, followed by committee review, floor debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching the governor for approval or veto. The General Assembly operates on a biennial schedule, and while typically thousands of bills are introduced each session, only a fraction successfully pass through the process to become law.

You can read more about bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB1909	01/29/2025	Creates the Agricultural Equipment Repair Bill of Rights Act. Provides that, for the purpose of providing services for agricultural equipment in the State, an original equipment manufacturer shall, with fair and reasonable terms and costs, make available to an independent repair provider or owner of the manufacturer's equipment any documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools that are intended for use with the equipment or any part, including updates to documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools. Provides that, with respect to agricultural equipment that contains an electronic security lock or other security-related function, a manufacturer shall, with fair and reasonable terms and costs, make available to independent repair providers and owners any documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools needed to reset the lock or function when disabled in the course of providing services. Provides that the manufacturer may make the documentation, parts, embedded software, firmware, or tools available to independent repair providers and owners through appropriate secure release systems. Provides that these provisions do not apply to a part that is no longer available to the original equipment manufacturer or conduct that would require the manufacturer to divulge a trade secret. Provides that a manufacturer shall not refuse to make available to an independent repair provider or owner any documentation, part, embedded software, firmware, or tool necessary to provide services on grounds that the documentation, part, embedded software, firmware, or tool itself is a trade secret, except that information necessary to repair agricultural equipment may not be redacted. Provides exceptions. Defines terms.
HB1739	01/24/2025	Amends the Illinois Dental Practice Act. Adds provisions concerning the licensing of denturists by the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, including qualifications, applications, examinations, and the creation of the Board of Denture Technology. Makes conforming changes. Effective immediately.
HB1627	01/23/2025	Amends the Counties Code. Provides that a county may deny a permit for a commercial solar energy facility or commercial wind energy facility, including the modification or improvement to an existing facility, if the work requested to be performed under the permit is not being performed under a project labor agreement with building trades located in the area where construction, modification, or improvements are to be made.
HB1629	01/23/2025	Creates the Municipal Assistance and Permit Review Reform Act. Provides that, by January 1, 2027, each State agency that requires authorization or environmental review of municipal construction or public works projects shall develop a web portal to be posted on the agency's website for the purpose of enhancing review and promoting timely issuance of permits required. Specifies the information an agency must make available on its web portal. Provides that, if an applicant submits a completed permit application to an agency for a covered project in accordance with all applicable State and federal law and there is no final action by the agency, then (1) the application is automatically approved after 180 days if notice and opportunity for public hearing are not required by State or federal law; and (2) the application is automatically approved after 270 days if notice and opportunity for public hearing are required by State or federal law. Defines terms including "covered project". Effective immediately.
HB1580	01/22/2025	Amends the Clinical Social Work and Social Work Practice Act, the Medical Practice Act of 1987, the Nurse Practice Act, the Pharmacy Practice Act, and the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that, during State fiscal years 2025 and 2026, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation shall allow individuals in rural counties a one-time waiver of fees imposed under specific provisions in each Act. Effective immediately.
HB1301	01/13/2025	Creates the Rural Hospital Task Force Act. Establishes the Rural Hospital Task Force within the Department of Public Health for the purpose of investigating the current state of rural hospitals and providing recommendations to prevent further closures of rural hospitals and to potentially expand rural hospital services. Provides that the Task Force shall convene to conduct business on at least 4 separate days. Requires the Department of Public Health to provide administrative and other support to the Task Force. Requires each agency and entity represented on the Task Force to share with the Task Force any data of the agency or entity necessary to achieve the purpose of the Task Force. Provides that all findings and recommendations made by the Task Force must be reported to the General Assembly before January 1, 2027. Provides that the Task Force is dissolved, and the Act is repealed, on January 1, 2027