Senate Bill 1991, also known as the "Junk Fee Prevention Act," aims to combat deceptive pricing practices, commonly referred to as junk fees, that inflate the costs of goods and services in Tennessee. The bill introduces a new section to the Tennessee Code Annotated, which defines key terms such as "consumer," "goods," "mandatory fee," and "transaction." It prohibits businesses from using deceptive pricing methods starting July 1, 2027, including failing to display total prices that include all mandatory fees, misleading disclosures of fees, and charging excessive fees for early contract termination.

Additionally, the bill outlines that violations of these provisions will be considered unfair or deceptive acts under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, subjecting offenders to penalties and remedies. It also mandates the commissioner of revenue to develop a public notice campaign to inform consumers about these new pricing requirements by January 1, 2027. The bill amends existing law to include violations of the new section as a specific offense under the Consumer Protection Act, thereby enhancing consumer rights and promoting transparency in pricing.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 47-18-104(b), 47-18-104