Prohibits any person from employing dynamic or surveillance pricing practices in the sale of goods or services to consumers in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Bill: Ban on Dynamic and Surveillance Pricing

This bill would make it illegal for businesses to use "dynamic pricing" or "surveillance pricing" when selling goods or services to consumers in Rhode Island. Dynamic pricing is when a company automatically adjusts prices based on factors like time of day, how many people are shopping, or how much demand there is for a product — similar to how airline tickets or ride-share prices fluctuate. Surveillance pricing takes this a step further by using personal data collected about individual shoppers — such as their browsing history, location, or buying habits — to charge different customers different prices for the same item.

If passed, this bill would affect a wide range of businesses that operate in Rhode Island, from online retailers and grocery stores to hotels and service providers. Any company that currently uses software or algorithms to adjust prices based on consumer data or market conditions in real time would need to change how they set prices. Consumers, on the other hand, could benefit from more consistent, predictable pricing that doesn't vary based on who they are or what a business thinks they're willing to pay.

It's worth noting that this bill is still in its early stages. It has been referred to the Senate Commerce Committee and was recommended to be "held for further study," meaning lawmakers are still evaluating it and it has not yet moved forward toward a vote. No final action has been taken on the legislation at this time.