AN ACT relating to trade practices.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Daniel Grossberg

HB 149 aims to curb unfair or deceptive trade practices in Kentucky, establishing standards, enforcement, and remedies to protect consumers and ensure fair competition.

to Judiciary (H)

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Summary of HB 149 (2026 Regular Session, Kentucky)

Purpose and intent

HB 149 seeks to regulate certain trade practices within Kentucky, with the goal of protecting consumers and ensuring fair competition in the marketplace. The bill appears to address practices that could be considered unfair, deceptive, or anti-competitive, and aims to establish standards, enforcement mechanisms, and remedies consistent with consumer protection and marketplace integrity.

Key provisions and changes

Unfair or Deceptive Practices: The bill outlines prohibited practices by businesses in their dealings with customers, including misrepresentation of goods or services, false advertising, or any conduct that misleads consumers about price, quality, or availability.

Trade Practice Standards: Establishes criteria for fair dealing in transactions, potentially including disclosure requirements, truth-in-advertising standards, and prohibitions on deceptive billing or packaging.

Enforcement and Penalties: Creates or defines enforcement mechanisms, likely assigning a state agency (e.g., a consumer protection or attorney general office) with authority to investigate violations, issue cease-and-desist orders, and pursue penalties. Penalties may include civil fines, restitution to harmed consumers, and potential injunctive relief.

Consumer Remedies: Specifies remedies available to consumers who suffer harm due to prohibited trade practices, such as monetary restitution, refunds, or replacement of goods/services.

Administrative Procedure: May include rulemaking authority, procedures for adopting regulations, and possible exemptions or transitional provisions for existing contracts or ongoing business practices.

Definitions: Provides precise definitions for key terms (e.g., “unfair,” “deceptive,” “consumer,” “goods,” “services,” “advertising”) to guide interpretation and enforcement.

Who/what is affected

Businesses and sellers operating in Kentucky who engage in commerce with consumers or other businesses affected by consumer protection standards.

Consumers in Kentucky who purchase goods or services and could be harmed by unfair or deceptive trade practices.

Potentially, industries with specific advertising or billing practices may be subject to new disclosure or verification requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction and Referral: HB 149 was introduced in the Kentucky House on January 7, 2026, and referred to the Committee on Committees, then to the Judiciary (H) on January 14, 2026, indicating initial committee consideration and potential hearings.

Legislative Process: As a bill moving through the Judiciary committee, it will undergo hearings, possible amendments, and votes in committee prior to potential floor consideration by the full House and eventual chamber or conference committee actions.

Effective Date: The text provided does not specify an effective date; if enacted, the bill would typically become effective on a date defined within the final act (e.g., upon signature by the governor or a later scheduled date) and may include phased-in or transitional provisions.

Notes

The available information does not include the full statutory text or a fiscal impact statement. For a complete understanding, a reader should review the bill’s actual language, including definitions, penalty structures, exemptions, and any proposed regulatory rules.

Given its placement in Judiciary, enforcement, remedies, and procedural rules are likely central elements of the final bill.