AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- PROTECTING RHODE ISLANDERS FROM COERCIVE ECONOMIC TACTICS AT GROCERY STORES

HB 7514, titled the "Price Tags Act," creates new rules to prevent grocery suppliers from using unfair pricing tactics against smaller retailers in Rhode Island. It requires suppliers to offer identical pricing terms for the same grocery products (like packaged foods) to all retailers buying in similar quantities, and to share anonymized pricing data with non-dominant retailers upon request. The law specifically targets large suppliers (annual sales over $6 billion) and dominant retailers (annual sales over $18 billion across 20+ states), prohibiting them from refusing sales or offering different terms without valid justification. Covered goods exclude gasoline, prescription drugs, tobacco, and alcohol, focusing on everyday grocery items sold in stores.