Rhode Island House Bill H5551

Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/26/25
• Refer: 2/26/25

Caption

Provides that an electronic shelving label by itself would not satisfy the disclosure and display requirements for unit pricing by way of the attachment of a stamp, tag or label to the commodity.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would enforce stricter requirements for how retail prices are communicated to consumers in Rhode Island. The modification seeks to protect consumers by mandating that retailers use more traditional methods for displaying prices, such as stamps, tags, or labels directly affixed to the products or their display spaces. This change is intended to ensure that consumers are not solely reliant on digital displays that could potentially lead to confusion or misinterpretations of pricing information.

Summary

House Bill H5551 aims to amend the existing provisions related to unit pricing within the state's commercial law. Specifically, the bill clarifies that an electronic shelving label, which is a digital display indicating pricing, is not sufficient on its own to meet the disclosure and display requirements for unit pricing. The bill redefines the mandated means by which retailers must disclose unit and total prices to consumers, ensuring that such information is accessible and clear.

Contention

While the bill seems to present straightforward consumer protection measures, it may still generate discussion about the implications for retailers, especially those employing modern technologies like electronic shelving labels. Some stakeholders might argue that these requirements could hamper efficiency and modern retail practices by necessitating traditional labeling methods, which could be viewed as cumbersome in comparison to the automated systems vendors might prefer. The balance between consumer clarity and retail innovation may be a point of contention among legislators and business groups.