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SF2917 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Food and beverage establishments mandatory fee advertisement requirement exemption provision

Related bill: HF2676

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

This bill aims to modify existing legislation in Minnesota concerning the advertisement of prices for goods and services, specifically focusing on exempting food and beverage service establishments from the mandatory fee advertisement requirement.

Main Provisions

  • The bill amends Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 325D.44, subdivision 1a, which deals with deceptive trade practices related to advertising prices.
  • The legislation allows food and beverage service establishments, including hotels, to display pricing without including mandatory fees upfront in advertisements. Instead, these establishments must clearly disclose any automatic and mandatory gratuities charged with the total price of the goods or services.
  • The bill maintains requirements for other types of advertising to ensure consumers are aware of all mandatory fees or surcharges when viewing the price of goods or services.
  • The bill does not affect fees imposed by government entities, such as taxes, and maintains explanations of delivery platform compliance regarding extra fees.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Food and beverage service establishments are specifically exempt from the requirement to include all mandatory fees when advertising prices. This amendment aims to provide more flexibility in how prices are presented to consumers for these types of businesses.
  • The bill reinforces clear disclosure requirements for other mandatory fees in several contexts, ensuring that consumers are not misled by advertised prices that lack critical fee information.

Relevant Terms

mandatory fees, deceptive trade practice, surcharge, food and beverage service establishments, gratuities, advertisement, pricing information, fee exemptions, clarity in advertising, consumer protection.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 23, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 23, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toCommerce and Consumer Protection

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "New clarifications on the exemptions for certain types of businesses, like food and beverage service establishments."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section deals with deceptive trade practices related to advertisements that do not disclose mandatory fees.",
      "modified": [
        "Revised disclosure requirements for mandatory fees in advertisements."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "325D.44",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1a"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarification on exemptions that apply to fees related to motor vehicle dealers."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section pertains to the authorizations related to motor vehicle dealers.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "168.27",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Exemptions for fees, surcharges or other costs related to food or beverage service establishments."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section defines food or beverage service establishments.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "157.15",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Clarification on exemptions for fees associated with settlement services."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This section is part of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act regarding settlement services.",
      "modified": [
        ""
      ]
    },
    "citation": "12 U.S. Code § 2602",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Sponsors