HB4044 - 104th General Assembly (2025-2026)
CONSUMER RIGHT TO RETURN
Last Action
4/28/2026 - Senate: Assigned to Judiciary
House Sponsors
Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. - Theresa Mah, Nicolle Grasse, Laura Faver Dias and Camille Y. Lilly
Senate Sponsors
(Sen. Rachel Ventura)
Statutes Amended In Order of Appearance
Synopsis As Introduced
Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that it is an unlawful practice for a retail establishment to not accept the return of a product by a consumer or only offer store credit to the consumer in exchange for the return of a product if the consumer purchased the product at that retail establishment and the product is unopened and unused.
House Floor Amendment No. 1
Deletes reference to:
Adds reference to:
Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Consumer Product Return Act. Provides that a retail mercantile establishment shall not limit the method of return or refund to the issuance of store credit when accepting the return of an unopened or unused consumer product from a consumer. Provides that a retail mercantile establishment may require a consumer to provide reasonable proof of purchase and may use any reasonable method to verify that the consumer purchased the unused or unopened consumer product before processing a return, refund, or exchange. Sets forth limitations and exceptions to the Act. Provides that a violation of the Act is a business offense with a fine not to exceed $25. Provides that a retail mercantile establishment shall not be fined in excess of $500 in a calendar year for violations of the Act. Allows a person to bring an action for injunctive relief to obtain compliance with the Act. Limits home rule. Effective July 1, 2027.
Actions
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 4/24/2025 | House | Filed with the Clerk by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. |
| 4/29/2025 | House | First Reading |
| 4/29/2025 | House | Referred to Rules Committee |
| 2/17/2026 | House | Assigned to Consumer Protection Committee |
| 2/24/2026 | House | Added Chief Co-Sponsor Rep. Theresa Mah |
| 2/24/2026 | House | Do Pass / Short Debate Consumer Protection Committee; 005-002-000 |
| 2/25/2026 | House | Placed on Calendar 2nd Reading - Short Debate |
| 3/02/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Nicolle Grasse |
| 3/09/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Laura Faver Dias |
| 4/07/2026 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Filed with Clerk by Rep. Marcus C. Evans, Jr. |
| 4/07/2026 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Referred to Rules Committee |
| 4/08/2026 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Rules Refers to Consumer Protection Committee |
| 4/10/2026 | House | Second Reading - Short Debate |
| 4/10/2026 | House | Held on Calendar Order of Second Reading - Short Debate |
| 4/14/2026 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Recommends Be Adopted Consumer Protection Committee; 009-000-000 |
| 4/15/2026 | House | Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Camille Y. Lilly |
| 4/17/2026 | House | House Floor Amendment No. 1 Adopted |
| 4/17/2026 | House | Placed on Calendar Order of 3rd Reading - Short Debate |
| 4/17/2026 | House | Third Reading - Short Debate - Passed 101-000-000 |
| 4/21/2026 | Senate | Arrive in Senate |
| 4/21/2026 | Senate | Placed on Calendar Order of First Reading April 28, 2026 |
| 4/22/2026 | Senate | Chief Senate Sponsor Sen. Rachel Ventura |
| 4/22/2026 | Senate | First Reading |
| 4/22/2026 | Senate | Referred to Assignments |
| 4/28/2026 | Senate | Assigned to Judiciary |
