Bill > H5552

This bill creates the "Price Tags Act," a new chapter in Rhode Island's commercial law designed to protect grocery retailers from unfair pricing practices by large suppliers and dominant retailers. The legislation establishes comprehensive definitions for covered goods, retailers, suppliers, and wholesalers, and prohibits suppliers from offering different sales terms to different retailers purchasing the same goods. Specifically, the bill makes it unlawful for suppliers to deny sales to smaller retailers, fail to provide transparent pricing information, or be coerced by dominant retailers into discriminatory practices. The law applies to grocery and consumer-packaged goods and sets financial thresholds for defining "dominant" retailers (those with over $18 billion in annual sales and stores in more than 20 states). Retailers or suppliers who believe they have been harmed can sue to obtain injunctions or damages, with potential penalties up to 1.5 times the actual damages. The bill includes provisions for potential defenses, such as genuine cost efficiencies or perishable goods considerations, and ensures that suppliers coerced by dominant retailers can seek immunity by demonstrating good faith efforts to disclose unfair practices. The legislation aims to level the playing field in grocery retail by preventing large retailers from using their market power to secure preferential treatment that smaller retailers cannot access.

Business and Industry

https://status.rilegislature.gov/