Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2025

Protection against price gouging: The bill prohibits retail food stores from selling items at a grossly excessive price, which can protect consumers from sudden, massive price hikes (Section 2(a)).

Prevention of personalized price manipulation: By banning surveillance-based price setting, the act prevents stores from changing the price of an item based on a consumer's personal information or facial recognition data (Section 3(a)).

Clearer pricing transparency: The prohibition on electronic shelf labels for larger stores requires a non-digital presentation of prices, ensuring a consistent price display (Section 5(a)).

Consumer notification regarding technology: For stores that do use facial recognition technology, the law requires them to notify consumers through clear and conspicuous signage at the main entrance (Section 4(a)).

Right to legal recourse: The bill allows consumers to take legal action to enjoin violations or seek monetary damages and restitution if they are injured by prohibited practices (Section 6(c)).

Burden of proof for stores: Retail food stores must be able to demonstrate to the Commission that price increases are directly attributable to costs beyond their control to avoid being accused of price gouging (Section 2(b)).

Restrictions on specific discounts: While certain group discounts are allowed, any discount or reward must be offered uniformly to all consumers who meet the disclosed eligibility criteria (Section 3(b)).

Increased requirements for biometric data: If a store uses biometric data for identity verification, they must follow strict rules, including providing written notice of the purpose, term of use, and sharing circumstances, as well as obtaining a written release (Section 3(c)).

Mandatory signage requirements: Retailers using facial recognition technology are burdened with the requirement to provide plain and simple language notifications via signage at the main entrance (Section 4(a)).