Tomorrow: Key House Committee to Consider ‘Most Sweeping Consumer Protection Measure’ of 2024

RICHMOND, Va. — Tomorrow, lawmakers in the House Labor and Commerce Committee will meet 30 minutes after adjournment to consider Sen. Stella Pekarsky’s (D-Fairfax) Senate Bill 388 to ban all surprise junk fees in Virginia.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has called Senator Pekarsky’s bill “the most sweeping consumer protection measure to emerge in this year’s General Assembly session.”

Senator Pekarsky’s bill would ban surprise hidden fees on all transactions, including concert tickets, rental cars, hotel reservations, credit card fees, resort fees, meal delivery services, and phone upgrades. As WVTR-TV in Richmond explained: “Service fees mean that the final price when you get to checkout is higher than what was initially advertised.”

Sen. Pekarsky’s bill passed the Senate earlier this month by a strong 28-11 bipartisan margin. Del. Adele McClure (D-Arlington) has championed the bill in the House, and introduced a companion bill this session. According to recent polling, 77% of Americans support efforts to stop the practice of surprise junk fees.

“Junk fees are deceptive and dupe people of their hard-earned money,” said Freedom Virginia Executive Director Rhena Hicks. “This practice is so pervasive that the federal government estimates it costs American families at least $29 billion a year. We strongly support this bill and encourage all lawmakers to vote yes in tomorrow’s full committee hearing to finally rein in junk fees and promote transparency in our marketplace.”

If the committee passes the bill, the legislation will head to the full House of Delegates for a floor vote.