Technology (Consumer Protection)

This bill amends the Michigan Consumer Protection Act to explicitly prohibit merchants from using "surveillance pricing," a practice where prices are dynamically adjusted based on data gathered from monitoring individual customers. The legislation directly affects businesses selling goods and services by adding a new provision that makes it unlawful to charge higher prices to consumers who are being tracked or monitored. By incorporating this specific prohibition into the state's existing list of unfair trade practices, the bill aims to prevent deceptive pricing tactics that exploit consumer data.

Senate Bill 991 amends Michigan's Consumer Protection Act to prohibit businesses from using certain algorithms and protected class data to set prices. This law directly affects companies that sell goods or services by banning the practice of adjusting prices based on factors like race, age, or other personal characteristics. The bill adds a new section to the statute to explicitly make this pricing behavior unlawful, ensuring that consumers are not charged different amounts for the same items based on their personal data.

SB 759 amends Michigan's Consumer Protection Act to explicitly treat violations of the Kids Code Act (which protects children's online privacy) as violations of the main consumer protection law. This means companies that break rules about collecting or using children's data under the Kids Code Act would also face enforcement actions under the Consumer Protection Act. The key mechanism adds a new provision (section 3(dd)) to the Consumer Protection Act, linking Kids Code violations directly to existing consumer protection penalties. This bill primarily affects businesses operating in Michigan that handle children's personal information online, making compliance with both laws essential. The bill was introduced in December 2025 and referred to the Finance, Insurance, and Consumer Protection committee.

HB 4262 empowers Michigan's attorney general to investigate and enforce violations of the state's Event Online Ticket Sales Act. It directly affects online ticket sellers who misrepresent ticket prices, availability, or fees. Key provisions include imposing civil fines of up to $5,000 per violated ticket, allowing the attorney general to seek court injunctions against ongoing violations, and enabling recovery of fines and restitution. The bill adds enforcement tools to the existing ticket sales law without changing the underlying consumer protections.

SB 159 empowers the Attorney General to investigate deceptive practices by online ticket sellers, such as hidden fees, false seat availability, or misleading pricing for event tickets. It creates a new legal framework allowing the AG to impose fines and remedies for violations, directly affecting businesses selling event tickets online. Key provisions establish clear procedures for investigations and specify penalty amounts for noncompliance. The law aims to protect consumers from unfair ticket sales tactics without specifying exact financial thresholds or enforcement timelines.