Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2025

Summary of HR 4966: Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2025

Purpose and Intent

The Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2025 (HR 4966) aims to address and prevent price gouging in grocery stores, particularly during times of crisis or emergency. The bill seeks to protect consumers from excessive price increases on essential food items, ensuring that all individuals have access to affordable groceries.

Key Provisions

While the specific text of the bill has not been detailed in the provided information, the following are anticipated provisions based on the bill's title and intent:

• Definition of Price Gouging: The bill is expected to define what constitutes price gouging in the context of grocery stores, likely establishing a threshold for price increases deemed excessive.

• Enforcement Mechanisms: The legislation may include provisions for enforcement, allowing state and federal authorities to investigate and penalize grocery stores that engage in price gouging practices.

• Consumer Protections: The bill is likely to include protections for consumers, ensuring they can report instances of price gouging without fear of retaliation from grocery retailers.

• Emergency Provisions: The legislation may specify that price gouging protections are particularly applicable during declared emergencies, such as natural disasters or public health crises.

Who Would Be Affected

• Consumers: The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be consumers, particularly low- and middle-income families who rely on grocery stores for essential food items.

• Grocery Retailers: Grocery stores and retailers would be directly impacted, as they would need to comply with the new regulations regarding pricing practices.

• State and Federal Agencies: Agencies responsible for consumer protection and enforcement would be tasked with monitoring compliance and addressing violations.

Legislative Process and Timeline

• Introduced: The bill was introduced in the House on August 12, 2025.

• Committee Referral: Upon introduction, HR 4966 was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on the Judiciary for further consideration. The timeline for these committees to review the bill will be determined by the Speaker of the House.

Sponsors

The bill is sponsored by Rashida Tlaib and has a significant number of cosponsors, including notable representatives such as:

• LaMonica McIver
• Christopher R. Deluzio
• Yassamin Ansari
• Teresa Leger Fernandez
• Sydney Kamlager-Dove
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

This broad support indicates a strong interest in addressing the issue of price gouging in grocery stores.

Conclusion

HR 4966 represents a legislative effort to safeguard consumers from unfair pricing practices in grocery stores, particularly during emergencies. As the bill progresses through the legislative process, it will be important to monitor its developments and potential impact on both consumers and retailers.