Rhode Island House Bill H7409

Rhode Island 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/26
• Refer: 1/30/26

Caption

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS --, DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES

Summary

H7409 would amend Rhode Island’s deceptive trade practices law to make it unlawful for a retail establishment to impose a surcharge on a customer who pays with a credit card for a transaction occurring in the state. The bill adds a new section to Chapter 6-13.1 stating that such a surcharge is a deceptive trade practice. In practical terms, the measure would bar merchants from passing credit card processing costs directly to consumers through a separate surcharge fee at the point of sale. The prohibition applies to retail establishments offering goods or services for sale and would take effect immediately upon passage.

Impact

The bill would expand Rhode Island’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act by creating a specific prohibition on credit card surcharges. It would affect retailers, service providers, and other sellers conducting transactions in the state by limiting how they may recover payment-processing costs from customers. Consumers paying by credit card would be protected from added surcharge fees, while businesses would need to absorb those costs or adjust pricing in other ways.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented debate or vote-based sentiment to assess. Based on the bill text and caption alone, the measure appears consumer-protective and straightforward, with its main policy goal being to prevent extra charges on credit card users. Because the available record is limited, broader support or opposition cannot be determined from the materials provided.

Contention

The principal point of contention, if any, would likely be between consumer advocates and retail or business interests. Supporters would view the surcharge ban as a transparency and fairness measure that prevents surprise fees at checkout, while opponents might argue that it restricts merchants’ ability to recover payment-processing expenses and could lead to higher base prices for all customers. No specific objections, amendments, or recorded disagreements appear in the provided legislative history.