House Committee on Corporations hears seven bills on consumer protections, funeral options and banking safeguards; votes to hold bills for study

The House Committee on Corporations convened Jan. 27 in Room 101 and voted procedurally to hold seven bills for further study, a motion the chair said was "not substantive" and would give the committee time to review testimony and documents. Vice Chair O'Brien moved to hold the agenda items, Representative Finkelman seconded, and the clerk recorded "the ayes have it."

The hearing featured short introductions by sponsors, one public witness, and discussion of consumer protections, administrative capacity, and business impacts. No final legislative votes on the bills themselves were taken; the committee left each item open for additional review.

Representative Fellella introduced House Bill 7022, described as an unfair-sales-practices measure that would require businesses to post notice when a surcharge or fee applies to credit-card payments. The sponsor told the committee the bill would "ask for businesses to advertise or put up a notice saying they're gonna be using the surcharge or a fee when you use a credit card," and suggested notices be placed on menus in restaurants and similar venues. Bill Walsh of the CTIA signed in opposition but did not testify.

Representative…