Contact Congress about H.R. 7850: Farm Freedom to Repair Act

Farmers and repair shops could legally bypass digital locks to fix covered farm equipment. They could also use or sell tools for diagnosis, service, and repair.

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Farm Freedom to Repair Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Latest action on H.R. 7850: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects farmers, equipment owners, independent repair shops, equipment dealers, and manufacturers. Farmers and repair shops could get more legal room to fix covered machines. Manufacturers could have less control over who bypasses software locks for repair.

Why this matters: Modern farm machines can stop working because of software problems or locked electronic systems. This bill could help farmers fix those machines faster and with more repair choices. That could matter most during planting and harvest, when delays can be costly. The bill does not say how it would affect safety, warranties, emissions rules, or cybersecurity.

Key provisions in H.R. 7850

• The bill adds a new farm-equipment repair rule to federal copyright law. It places that rule in Section 1201 of Title 17, which deals with digital locks.
• People could bypass digital locks on covered farm equipment to find problems, service it, or fix it. The lock must protect a copyrighted work, such as software.
• People could make, import, offer, provide, or sell tools and services that help bypass those locks. The tools must be for diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of covered farm equipment.
• The bill covers two parts of Section 1201, the federal digital-lock law. Those parts limit tools that bypass access controls and tools that get around protections for copyrighted works.
• Covered equipment is defined broadly. It includes any agricultural product that needs attached or built-in digital electronics to work, even partly.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 7850

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 7850

What is H.R. 7850?

Farmers and repair shops could legally bypass digital locks to fix covered farm equipment. They could also use or sell tools for diagnosis, service, and repair.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 7850?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 7850?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.R. 7850 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.