Rep. Friedman Introduces Stop Disaster Price Gouging Act to Limit Post-Storm Price Hikes
This bill is currently sitting in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. It has not seen any action since March 2025, which means it has been stalled for over a year. The committee must review the bill before it can move forward, but most bills like this never receive a vote.
Consumer protection bills like this often struggle to get through committee without broad support from party leadership.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Small businesses in disaster zones face a tricky balance. On one hand, they cannot raise prices more than 10% above pre-disaster levels even when their own costs spike due to supply shortages. On the other hand, the bill does allow them to pass through legitimate cost increases from suppliers. Small retailers, gas stations, and contractors would need to carefully document their costs to avoid FTC enforcement or lawsuits, adding administrative burden during an already chaotic time.
“is not more than 10 percent greater than the total of the cost to the person plus the markup customarily applied by that seller for that good or service in the usual course of business immediately prior to the onset of the major disaster or emergency”
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Rep. Laura Friedman announced the Stop Disaster Price Gouging Act to protect victims from predatory price hikes on housing and essential goods following the January wildfires. The bill establishes a federal prohibition on price increases over 10% and includes a $25,000 penalty for violators.
On the anniversary of the Los Angeles wildfires, Rep. Laura Friedman recommitted to passing the Stop Disaster Price Gouging Act. She emphasized that the bill is crucial to prevent businesses from exploiting vulnerable families during the 180-day home repair and construction window.
The article discusses a broader legislative push to address affordability and cost-of-living concerns. While focusing on the '21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,' it notes that lawmakers are increasingly looking at federal limits on price hikes and institutional market power to protect consumers.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Stop Disaster Price Gouging Act
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