HB 2176: Price Gouging; LRB Study; Cost of Living; Groceries; Report

A BILL FOR AN ACT

rELATING TO fOOD Pricing.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds Hawaii ranks as one of the highest in the nation for cost of living.  According to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average Hawaii resident spends $58,115 per year on personal consumption expenditures.  Some of the leading expenses are housing, utilities, health care, and groceries.  The Bureau of Economic Analysis estimates that Hawaii’s per capita food cost is $5,507 a year.  For groceries, the average monthly expenses for one person are $459 or $1,836 for a family of four.  Hawaii residents pay a much greater price for groceries in comparison to the rest of the nation, due to our reliance on importing goods and our limited agriculture production.  Therefore, due to Hawaii's limited access this leaves many residents susceptible to price gouging on food products.

     The purpose of this Act is to study price gouging regulations enacted in other states and provide policy recommendations.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The legislative reference bureau shall study and submit a report on the approaches employed by other states regarding the following food pricing subjects:

     (1)  Government regulation and oversight to combat grocery price gouging;

     (2)  Price analysis of groceries in Hawaii compared to the rest of the nation over the past decade; and

     (3)  Identify the contributing factors of price gouging of groceries in Hawaii.

     (b)  The legislative reference bureau shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2027.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Report Title:

Price Gouging; LRB Study; Cost of Living; Groceries; Report

Description:

Requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to conduct a study on how other states regulate price gouging of food products.

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