HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	643
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2023
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to deceptive trade practices.

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

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Hawaii residents are often barred from claiming offers for free or reduced rate shipping, which are more commonly available to purchasers in other states. Many retailers also apply an arbitrary shipping cost to Hawaii residents, which does not correlate with the actual cost of shipping.

The purpose of this Act is to establish that charging shipping and delivery charges that exceed the actual cost charged to the seller to ship or deliver a commodity to a consumer in the State shall constitute an unfair and deceptive practice.

SECTION 2. Chapter 481B, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§481B-   Shipping charges. In the sale or purchase of any commodity to be shipped or delivered to a consumer in the State, if a seller imposes a separate charge for shipping or delivery to a consumer, that charge shall not exceed the actual cost charged to the seller to ship or deliver the commodity to a consumer in the State."

SECTION 3. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Deceptive Trade Practices; Shipping Charges; Delivery Charges; Commodities

Description:

Establishes that charging shipping and delivery charges that exceed the actual cost charged to the seller to ship or deliver a commodity to a consumer in Hawaii constitutes an unfair and deceptive practice.

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