Congress·In Committee·S. 3892

Senate Bill Would Ban Grocery Price Gouging, Surveillance Pricing, and Digital Shelf Tags

Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2026

about 1 month ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: Congress Moves to Ban Digital Price Tags and Surveillance-Based Pricing

Legislative Progress

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House

President

Law

Key Points

This bill would stop grocery stores from charging "grossly excessive" prices for food. It gives the Federal Trade Commission the power to decide what a fair price is, but suggests that any price more than 20% higher than the average price from the previous six months could be considered price gouging.
The policy bans stores from using "surveillance-based pricing." This means stores could not use your personal data—like your shopping history, income, or facial recognition—to change the price of an item specifically for you. Stores would also have to post clear signs if they use facial recognition technology at all.
Grocery stores larger than 10,000 square feet would be banned from using electronic shelf labels or digital price tags. They would be required to use traditional printed labels so that prices cannot be changed instantly or hidden from certain shoppers.
If a store breaks these rules, shoppers would have the right to sue for at least $3,000 in damages. State governments could also sue stores on behalf of their residents to stop unfair pricing and collect money for people who were overcharged.
Stores would still be allowed to offer standard discounts for groups like seniors, students, or military members, as long as the rules are the same for everyone in those groups. They can also raise prices if their own costs for buying or shipping the food go up for reasons they can't control.

Economy FinanceTechnology DigitalCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 12, 2026Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Feb 12, 2026

Introduced in Senate

Related News

3 articles

Gizmodo·about 1 month ago

Dems Want to Ban Surveillance Pricing at Big Grocery Stores

Sens. Luján and Merkley introduced the Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2026 to ban 'surveillance pricing' and electronic shelf labels in large stores. The bill aims to prevent stores from using facial recognition and personal data to charge different prices to different customers.

Food Trade News·about 1 month ago

Surveillance Pricing Ban Efforts Gather Steam

The federal Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2026 would bar personalized pricing based on consumer data and prohibit electronic shelf label (ESL) systems. The bill includes exemptions for defined promotional pricing like senior or student discounts.

Arizona Capitol Times·about 2 months ago

States move to curb AI-driven 'surveillance pricing'

While focusing on state-level efforts in Maryland and Arizona, the report highlights the growing momentum for federal legislation like the Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act to prohibit the use of biometric data and digital labels to adjust prices in real time.

Related Bills

1 bill

H.R. 4966Related bill

Stop Price Gouging in Grocery Stores Act of 2025

Aug 12 — Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.