Bill > HB321

This bill aims to protect consumers from deceptive pricing practices in the transient accommodations and resort time share industry by prohibiting "junk fees" - hidden or unexpected charges that are not disclosed at the time of purchase. Specifically, the bill prevents businesses from charging any fees for transient accommodations or resort time shares that were not originally disclosed before the purchase, requires all advertisements (including online) to clearly display the total price with all fees upfront, and mandates that any taxes or fees shown as a percentage must also be displayed as a specific dollar amount. The legislation defines key terms like "booking transaction" and references existing Hawaii state definitions for terms such as "transient accommodations" and "resort time share vacation interest". The bill is part of a broader national movement to combat "drip pricing" - a practice where additional fees are incrementally revealed during the purchasing process, which can mislead consumers about the true cost of a product or service. By requiring full upfront price transparency, the bill seeks to help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions and prevent businesses from using deceptive pricing strategies. The new rules will take effect immediately upon the bill's approval and do not apply to rights, penalties, or proceedings that existed before its enactment.

Business and Industry

https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=321&year=2025