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Bill would require online sellers to display transaction summaries before checkout
Summary
Senate Bill 430 would require retail sellers who transact online with Oregon residents to show a written summary of total charges, including handling or service fees, before a sale completes. Tech industry groups urged changes citing operational complexity; consumer advocates supported transparency.
Senate Bill 430 would require a retail seller that offers goods or services online to residents of Oregon to present a written summary of the transaction before concluding the sale, including total amount due and any handling or service charges.
Whitney Perez, committee staff, described the bill as introduced by Senator Floyd Prezonski, with no referrals or amendments at the time of the first public hearing. The measure’s effective date in the draft was described as taking effect on the “90 first day following adjournment sine die” (staff noted the effective date language during explanation).
Senator Prezonski said the bill grew from personal consumer experiences in which posted prices rose substantially at final checkout because additional service or processing fees were added late in the online flow. He described examples including event tickets where a $6 ticket became $18 after added fees and recounted an in-person example where staff at a concession said they would not accept cash.
Consumer advocates testified in favor. Chris Coughlin of Oregon Consumer Justice told the committee the concept addresses “drip pricing” and supports requiring clear notice so buyers can cancel if they do not accept additional, late-added charges.
Industry witnesses urged caution. Peter Brown of TechNet said many online platforms already comply with FTC and state consumer-protection laws, and he warned that the bill as drafted could create overlapping obligations and operational burdens for sellers, especially those operating across multiple states. Derek Zingston of Oregon Business and Industry said the draft could upset established frameworks and impose heavy costs on small, interstate sellers, potentially raising consumer prices or reducing availability of online purchases.
Committee members probed technical issues: how shipping for bulky or irregular items would be estimated at checkout, whether the seller can calculate shipping only after the buyer provides a ZIP code, and whether a state-specific disclosure would force different checkout processes for Oregon customers. Senator Prezonski and witnesses agreed many checkout flows already calculate shipping based on the buyer’s address; the committee and stakeholders said they will work on amendments to clarify applicability and limit operational conflicts.
No vote or amendments were taken; the sponsor and witnesses said they will collaborate on technical changes and that staff will bring amendments back for future consideration.
