Senate · Introduced · 2025-2026 Regular Session

SB 583: False Advertising; any person, firm, or corporation to display all fees associated with a consumer transaction when displaying the total price of a good; require

Last action February 26, 2026 · Senate Read and Referred

A Georgia Senate bill would require businesses to show the full price of goods and services, including mandatory fees and surcharges, upfront in advertisements rather than adding them later.

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In plain language

Georgia law currently does not clearly require sellers to include mandatory fees in the advertised price of a good or service, which can let hidden fees appear only at checkout. This bill adds a new section to Georgia's false advertising law (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-428) requiring any person, firm, or corporation to clearly and conspicuously display the total price of a consumer transaction, including mandatory fees, surcharges, and mandatory gratuity percentages, with the same prominence as the rest of the ad. The bill carves out exceptions for 'price-variable suppliers' like ride-share or delivery services, as long as they disclose what affects the final price, and for broadband, broadcast, and live-event ticket providers that already follow specific federal pricing rules. Businesses may still advertise discounts, lower a previously listed price, or follow conflicting federal law without violating the section. Violations would count as violations of Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act of 1975.

What the bill does

Adds a new Code section requiring businesses to display the total price of a consumer transaction, including mandatory fees, surcharges, and mandatory gratuities, as prominently as the rest of the ad.
Defines 'price-variable supplier' and exempts such businesses from the display rule if they disclose what factors affect the final price and that costs may vary.
Exempts broadband providers, broadcast service providers, and live-event ticket sellers that already comply with specific federal pricing disclosure rules.
Clarifies that lowering a previously advertised price, offering discounts or fee waivers, or following conflicting federal law does not violate the new requirement.
Makes any violation of the new section a violation of Georgia's Fair Business Practices Act of 1975, which allows for enforcement under that existing law.

Who it affects

Businesses that advertise or sell goods and services to consumers in Georgia, including retailers, service providers, ride-share and delivery companies, restaurants that charge automatic gratuities, broadband and broadcast providers, and live-event ticket sellers.

Why it matters

Georgia consumers would more often see the real total cost of a purchase before completing a transaction, since businesses would have to disclose mandatory fees and surcharges up front rather than adding them at checkout. Businesses would need to review and possibly redesign their pricing displays and advertisements.

Key provisions

Section 1 adds new Code Section 10-1-428 defining 'consumer transaction' and 'price-variable supplier' for purposes of the total price disclosure requirement.
Subsection (b) requires clear and conspicuous display of the total price, including mandatory fees, surcharges, and automatic mandatory gratuity percentages, with prominence comparable to the rest of the display.
Subsection (c) exempts price-variable suppliers that disclose pricing factors, and broadband, broadcast, and live-event ticket providers that comply with specified federal regulations.
Subsection (d) clarifies that price reductions, discounts, fee waivers, and compliance with preemptive federal law are not violations.
Subsection (e) makes any violation of the new section a violation of the Fair Business Practices Act of 1975, tying enforcement to that existing law.
Section 2 repeals conflicting laws.

From the bill

“No person, firm, or corporation shall, in connection with a consumer transaction, advertise or display a price for goods or services without clearly and conspicuously displaying the total price, which shall include all mandatory fees, surcharges, or the percentage of any automatic and mandatory gratuities charged.”
This is the bill's core requirement for upfront, all-in pricing disclosure.

“Any violation of this Code section shall be considered a violation of Part 2 of this article, the 'Fair Business Practices Act of 1975.'”
This ties enforcement of the new pricing rule to Georgia's existing consumer protection law.

Status timeline

2026-02-26Senate Read and Referred (Senate)
2026-02-25Senate Hopper (Senate)

Topics

consumer protection
false advertising
hidden fees
pricing disclosure
fair business practices

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