Bill > SB6312

This bill, titled the "Fair Pricing and Transparency Act," aims to protect consumers by prohibiting "surveillance-based price discrimination" and "surge pricing" for retail goods, particularly in grocery stores. Surveillance-based price discrimination refers to altering prices based on a consumer's personal information, behavior, or demographics, while surge pricing involves increasing prices due to real-time demand or predicted willingness to pay, rather than actual cost changes. The bill defines these terms and also establishes a four-year moratorium, until January 1, 2030, on the use of "electronic shelf label systems" in large retail locations (15,000 square feet or larger). These systems are defined as technologies that can electronically display or update prices and have the capacity to collect or infer consumer data to personalize prices. The legislature finds these practices unfair and deceptive, potentially exacerbating inequality and undermining consumer trust, and intends for this act to ensure equitable and fair pricing. Additionally, the bill mandates a study on the impact of electronic shelf label systems on pricing transparency and job security, with a report due to the legislature by June 30, 2029.

Business and Industry

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6312&Year=2025&Initiative=false