Prohibiting Price Gouging in Sales of Necessities

Under current law, a person engages in an unfair and unconscionable act or practice in violation of consumer protection laws (unfair act) if the person engages in price gouging during a declared disaster. The bill adds engaging in provides that a person engages in price gouging in the sale of necessities as an unfair act and creates a presumption that, certain goods or services if, after the governor declares a disaster emergency, the price of a necessity the good or service is increased by 10% or more above the average price that the necessity cost during the 90 days preceding the price increase, the price increase amounts to price gouging price at which a similar good or service was sold or offered for sale before the disaster began. The bill also defines "necessities" as goods or services that are necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of consumers or of the general public.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)