An Act Concerning The Attorney General's Recommendations Regarding Consumer Products, Abnormal Economic Disruptions And Precipitating Events.
Summary
HB 6856 makes several changes to Connecticut law aimed at addressing price gouging and supply disruptions during emergencies. It revises the state’s existing prohibition on unconscionably excessive pricing so that it applies to vendors in the chain of distribution, not just retail sellers, and ties the restriction to a broader set of “precipitating events,” including gubernatorial civil preparedness or transportation emergency declarations, presidential disaster declarations, and new Attorney General notices of abnormal economic disruption. The bill also defines key terms such as “consumer necessity,” “abnormal economic disruption,” and “unconscionably excessive price,” and authorizes the Attorney General to issue, modify, extend, and enforce disruption notices subject to limited legislative disapproval.
Impact
The bill would amend section 42-230 of the general statutes and related enforcement provisions in section 51-164n. It expands the Attorney General’s authority to police emergency-related pricing across the supply chain and makes violations unfair or deceptive trade practices enforceable exclusively by the Attorney General under Connecticut’s consumer protection laws. It also creates a new UConn School of Business study on vendor efforts to reduce the size, weight, or quantity of consumer products sold in the state from 2005 through 2025, with a report due to the consumer protection committee and the Attorney General. In addition, the bill updates the procedures for certain minor violations to be handled under the same payment and hearing framework referenced in section 51-164n.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests the bill had generally favorable support in committee, passing as a Joint Favorable Substitute by a 15-7 vote. The absence of transcript excerpts limits insight into detailed debate, but the structure of the bill indicates a policy focus on consumer protection and emergency market stability that likely appealed to supporters concerned about price spikes during disasters and supply shortages.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely the breadth of the Attorney General’s new authority and the scope of the pricing restrictions. The bill allows the Attorney General to declare an abnormal economic disruption based on investigation and consultation, and those notices can affect a wide range of consumer necessities and distribution levels; critics may view that as a significant regulatory expansion. The legislative disapproval mechanism, which requires a majority of a special legislative committee and at least one minority leader’s support, also suggests sensitivity about executive enforcement power and oversight. Another possible area of debate is whether the bill’s anti-price-gouging rules could unintentionally interfere with normal market pricing or supply responses during emergencies.