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HF2676 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Food and beverage service establishments exempted from mandatory fee advertisement requirement.

Related bill: SF2917

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The bill aims to update Minnesota's commerce laws by providing an exemption for food and beverage service establishments from certain advertising requirements related to mandatory fees.

Main Provisions

  • Exemption for Food and Beverage Establishments:
    • The bill aims to exempt food and beverage service establishments, including hotels, from the requirement to include all mandatory fees or surcharges in advertised prices.
  • Clarification on Mandatory Fees:
    • Although businesses usually must include mandatory fees in advertised pricing, this bill specifies that a clear disclosure of automatic gratuities for food or beverage services is sufficient for compliance instead.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Alteration of Advertising Requirements:
    • The current law requires all businesses to include mandatory fees in advertised prices to avoid deceptive trade practices. Under this bill, food and beverage establishments will be exempt from including these fees upfront, as long as there is clear disclosure of such fees.
  • Addition to Exemption List:
    • Food and beverage service establishments are added to the list of exemptions alongside motor vehicle fees, public utilities, and certain real estate settlement services.

Relevant Terms

  • Exemption
  • Mandatory fees
  • Advertising requirements
  • Food and beverage establishments
  • Gratuities
  • Deceptive trade practice

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 23, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toCommerce Finance and Policy
March 23, 2025HouseFloorActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toCommerce Finance and Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new exemption for food and beverage service establishments from the mandatory fee advertisement requirement."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill modifies the rules regarding advertisement and disclosure of fees associated with the purchase of goods and services.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies conditions under which fees are to be disclosed in advertisements."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "325D.44",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1a"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new exemption for certain fees associated with a food or beverage service establishment."
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This bill provides exemptions related to the application of subdivision 1a.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjustments to existing exemptions for fees related to motor vehicles, public utilities, and real estate settlements."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "325D.44",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1b"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This citation references motor vehicle dealer regulations impacted by the exemption in subdivision 1b.",
      "modified": [
        "Clarifies which motor vehicle fees are exempt from the mandatory fee advertisement requirement."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "168.27",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 1 paragraph f"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        ""
      ],
      "removed": [
        ""
      ],
      "summary": "This citation is referenced to define food or beverage service establishments in the context of exemptions listed in subdivision 1b.",
      "modified": [
        "Provides a definition for establishments affected by new exemptions."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "157.15",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  }
]

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