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RICHMOND, Va. — Freedom Virginia today commended the House Labor and Commerce Subcommittee #2 for advancing Senator Stella Pekarsky’s (D-Fairfax) SB 388 to ban all surprise junk fees in Virginia and require transparency of the full price of a product or service upfront by a 5-2 vote. The bill passed the Senate earlier this year on a strong 28-11 bipartisan vote. This policy has been championed this session by both Sen. Pekarsky and Del. Adele McClure (D-Arlington).
An overwhelming 77% of voters in Virginia support banning surprise hidden fees, which are only revealed at the end of a transaction. Junk fees cost a Virginia family of four an average of $3,200 a year. Senator Pekarsky’s bill would ban junk fees across the entire economy, including on concert tickets, rental cars, cable bills, phone upgrades, hotel stays and food delivery.
“People deserve to know how much something costs at the beginning of a transaction, not the very end,” said Senator Pekarsky. “My comprehensive bill will save families money when they are shopping – whether it’s getting dinner for their families, getting a new phone, buying tickets to a show, or renting a car. A ban on junk fees will level the playing field for responsible small businesses. I thank the subcommittee for standing with consumers and voting to move this bill forward.”
“Corporations too often dupe people into buying a product whose actual cost is significantly higher than advertised,” said Rhena Hicks, Executive Director of Freedom Virginia. “The only people who like junk fees are the people charging them. I’m glad this bill is moving through the General Assembly. We need a fair and transparent marketplace for everyone.”
The bill will now head to the full House Labor and Commerce Committee for consideration.
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