STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2923

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.B. No. 2020

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 2020, S.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to make it a deceptive practice to advertise, display, or offer a price for goods or services that does not include all mandatory fees or charges, with certain exceptions.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Office of Consumer Protection and two individuals.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from CTIA, Hawaiʻi Restaurant Association, Chamber of Progress, TechNet, and Maui Chamber of Commerce.

Your Committee received comments on this measure from Expedia Group and National Association of Theatre Owners.

Your Committee finds that there is national support to reduce and eliminate mandatory fees that often hide the full price of a good or service and surprise fees that consumers learn about after purchase. This measure provides consumers the ability to make better and more informed purchasing decisions by prohibiting any person, other than those providing certain broadband internet access services, from advertising, displaying, or offering a price for a good or service that does not include all mandatory fees other than taxes imposed by a government or reasonable postage or carriage charges.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2020, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

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KARL RHOADS, Chair