The bill addresses concerns related to the increasing use of self-service checkouts in grocery stores, particularly their impact on social isolation, the elderly, customers with disabilities, retail workers, and the potential for increased shoplifting and data theft. The General Assembly finds that self-service checkouts can lead to negative health consequences due to social isolation, turn customers into unpaid employees, contribute to the devaluation of retail workers, and disproportionately affect people of color who are overrepresented in cashier positions.

To address these issues, the bill proposes amendments to Title 6 of the General Laws by adding a new chapter that defines terms such as "grocery store," "manual checkout station," "retail sale," and "self-service checkout." It restricts grocery stores to a maximum of six self-service checkout stations per location and requires an equal number of manual checkout stations. The bill grants enforcement authority to the consumer protection unit of the department of attorney general, with fines for violations and provisions for complaints by residents and employees without fear of retaliation. The act would take effect upon passage, and if any part of the new chapter is found unconstitutional or invalid, the rest would remain in effect.