Providing for the repair of certain equipment associated with farm implements, and providing penalties

This bill creates the “Iowa Fair Repair for Farm Implements Act”, which restricts certain practices by an original farm equipment manufacturer of digital electronic equipment that is part of a farm implement such as a tractor subject to repair by the manufacturer, an authorized repair provider affiliated with the manufacturer, an independent repair provider, or a person who holds a legal interest in the equipment. The bill provides that a manufacturer must make certain items available to an independent repair provider or a person holding a legal interest in the digital electronic equipment, including diagnostic and repair information. The manufacturer must also provide diagnostic repair tools to an independent repair provider or a person holding a legal interest in the digital electronic equipment, in the same manner as provided to an authorized repair provider. The sales terms must be fair and reasonable as defined in the bill. The bill provides that a manufacturer is not required to provide replacement parts if no longer available to the manufacturer or an authorized repair provider. The bill does not require a manufacturer to divulge a trade secret or abrogate warranty provisions. A provision in an agreement that is entered into by a consumer that waives a right provided in the bill is void. The attorney general is responsible for enforcing the provisions of the bill and is required to adopt rules necessary to implement the bill’s provisions. A violation of the bill by a manufacturer is considered an unfair or deceptive trade practice. The attorney general may bring a civil action against the manufacturer, including by seeking injunctive relief or by asking a court to impose a civil penalty not to exceed $40,000 per violation.