Study Order

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

The bill authorizes a House study on how tariff-related consumer information is disclosed, with a final report and possible legislative drafts due by December 31, 2026.

Discharged to the committee on House Rules

Summary of Bill H. 5453 (194th Massachusetts Legislature) – Study Order

Purpose and intent

This measure seeks authorization for the Massachusetts House to study a prior petition, House Document 5036, concerning the disclosure of consumer information related to tariffs.

The core aim is to investigate how tariff-related consumer information is disclosed and to evaluate potential improvements or reforms.

Key provisions

Creates an authorized study by the House committee:

The Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure is empowered to sit during a recess of the General Court to conduct the investigation and study.
The study pertains to House Document 5036, which addresses disclosure of information related to tariffs.

Reporting deadline and deliverables:

The committee must report the results of its investigation and study to the General Court.
The report should include any recommendations and, if applicable, drafts of legislation necessary to implement those recommendations.
The report and drafts are to be filed with the Clerk of the House on or before December 31, 2026.

Who or what is affected

Potentially affected parties include:

Consumers who are consumers of goods/services subject to tariffs and who rely on tariff-related disclosures.
Tariff-related industries and regulators concerned with how tariff information is disclosed to the public.
Stakeholders involved in consumer protection and professional licensure matters, given the committee leading the study.

At this stage, the bill does not impose new requirements on entities; rather, it initiates a formal study to assess current disclosures and consider reforms.

Procedural and timeline details

Procedural status:

The petition originating as House Document 5036 is being studied.
The Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure is authorized to conduct the investigation during any recess of the General Court.
The committee’s results, recommendations, and any draft legislation are to be reported to the General Court.

Timeline:

Final report and any proposed legislation are due by December 31, 2026.

Additional notes

The bill is framed as an order of the House to enable the study; it does not itself enact substantive changes to tariff disclosures.

The action history indicates favorable reporting by the committee and transfer through related committees for rules consideration, culminating in discharge to House Rules for processing.

In short, H. 5453 authorizes a formal House study of how tariff-related consumer information is disclosed, with a final report and potential legislative drafts due by end of 2026 to inform future policy.