Sponsors (16)
The bill strengthens consumer protections and market transparency during exceptional market shocks and funds enforcement capacity, but it increases regulatory discretion, compliance and reporting burdens, and the risk of supply disruptions, politicized triggers, and higher costs passed to consumers.
Low‑ and middle‑income consumers (and the general public) are more likely to pay lower or fairer prices during declared exceptional market shocks because the FTC can prohibit and enforce against grossly excessive pricing.
Consumers and small businesses gain stronger legal recourse and potential restitution because the FTC and state attorneys general can seek damages and penalties for abusive pricing.
The FTC is funded with $1.0 billion through FY2033, enabling sustained investigations, enforcement, and implementation of the law's protections.
The presumption of violation during declared shocks and the high evidentiary burden to rebut it (clear and convincing) could chill legitimate temporary price increases and risk supply shortages or refusals to sell.
New compliance, reporting, and enforcement obligations (FTC guidance, SEC disclosures, litigation risk) will raise costs for businesses, which could be passed to consumers, reduce competition, or discourage entry.
Ambiguous terms (e.g., 'grossly excessive price', 'exceptional market shock', 'critical trading partner') and broad FTC discretion increase legal uncertainty and litigation risk for firms.
Based on analysis of 8 sections of legislative text.
Makes "grossly excessive" pricing unlawful with special presumptions during major shocks, requires issuer disclosures after shocks, and provides $1B to the FTC for enforcement.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by Janice D. Schakowsky · Last progress July 17, 2025
Makes it unlawful to sell goods or services at a “grossly excessive” price, defines when that presumption applies during major market disruptions, and creates tests, defenses, and enforcement mechanisms for the Federal Trade Commission. It also requires public companies that experienced a covered market shock to disclose detailed quantitative and narrative information about pricing, volumes, and costs in their next SEC filings, and provides $1 billion in new funding to the FTC for enforcement work.