Summary — HB 6856
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING CONSUMER PRODUCTS, ABNORMAL ECONOMIC DISRUPTIONS AND PRECIPITATING EVENTS
Bill Number: HB 6856 (File No. 347)
Introduced: February 5, 2025
Subject tags: Attorney General, consumer goods, disclosure, economic conditions, emergencies, prices, reports/studies, unfair or deceptive trade practices, University of Connecticut, violations
Note: The full bill text was not provided. This summary is based on the bill title, subject tags, and available legislative actions. For precise statutory language, obligations, penalties, and dollar amounts (if any), consult the bill text on the legislature’s website.
Purpose and intent
HB 6856 concerns recommendations from the Connecticut Attorney General related to consumer protections during “abnormal economic disruptions” and other “precipitating events.” The bill is intended to strengthen consumer safeguards (including disclosure and pricing practices) and to set out or implement the Attorney General’s proposals for preventing or responding to consumer harm when supply, distribution, or market conditions are disrupted.
Key provisions (as implied by title and subjects)
Because the text is not included here, the following indicates the types of measures the bill appears to address:
- Require or implement the Attorney General’s recommendations on consumer products and market conduct during abnormal economic disruptions (e.g., natural disasters, major supply interruptions, pandemics).
- Establish disclosure requirements for sellers or manufacturers (product, price, availability, origin, or supply-chain information), potentially including electronic posting or reporting.
- Address pricing practices during emergencies — e.g., mechanisms to deter or penalize price gouging, misrepresentations, or other unfair or deceptive trade practices.
- Create or expand reporting and study obligations: the AG (or other agencies/university partners such as the University of Connecticut) may be directed to produce reports or studies on vulnerabilities, price trends, or enforcement outcomes.
- Clarify enforcement authority and penalties for violations under the Connecticut Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices framework.
- Provide for coordination between the Attorney General, state agencies, academic institutions, and private sector stakeholders in monitoring and responding to precipitating events.
Who would be affected
- Consumers (greater protections, disclosures, and remedies during disruptions).
- Retailers, manufacturers, distributors, and online sellers (new disclosure, pricing, reporting, or compliance obligations).
- Attorney General’s Office (implementation, enforcement, and reporting duties).
- State agencies and academic partners (e.g., University of Connecticut) involved in studies or data-sharing.
Legislative status and timeline
- Introduced: 2025-02-05 (referred to Joint Committee on General Law).
- Public hearing entry noted (PUBLIC HEARING 0210).
- Joint Favorable Substitute reported (03/12/25).
- Filed with LCO: 03/13/25.
- Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis: 03/24/25.
- Reported out of LCO and given a favorable report, then tabled for House calendar (03/31/25).
- House Calendar number 229; File No. 347.
Potential impact and considerations
- If enacted, the bill could expand consumer protections and strengthen the state’s tools to address price gouging and deceptive practices during supply disruptions.
- Implementation could impose compliance costs on businesses (new disclosures, reporting systems) and administrative burden on the Attorney General’s Office.
- The bill’s precise regulatory scope, enforcement mechanisms, and penalties are decisive for impacts; review of the bill text and any fiscal notes is recommended for detail.
For exact provisions, statutory changes, and fiscal impact, consult the full bill text and the Office of Fiscal Analysis report associated with File No. 347.
