Washington lawmakers are once again taking aim at food delivery sticker shock, reintroducing the PRICE Act this spring to force apps to show the full cost of an order before customers hit checkout and to outlaw so-called "surveillance pricing" that tailors prices based on browsing history or device data. Led by Rep. Dan Goldman and Sen. Ben Ray Luján, the proposal would require services like DoorDash, Grubhub and Uber Eats to display a running "all-in" total as items are added and to spell out each fee in plain language, potentially reshaping how orders are priced and how people decide between pickup and delivery.
Under the bill, third-party delivery platforms would have to prominently show a running total that includes item prices, taxes and any mandatory fees, along with an upfront breakdown explaining what each charge covers. Failing to disclose those costs would be treated as an unfair or deceptive act, and the Federal Trade Commission would gain authority to write rules, enforce compliance and seek penalties. Those provisions are laid out on Congress.gov.
The latest push was announced late last month as part of a broader effort that lawmakers say is aimed at growing consumer frustration with hidden "junk fees." "Far too often, Americans are caught off guard by high costs at checkout because of hidden fees that delivery apps fail to disclose upfront," Sen. Luján said in a statement. The release also quoted Rep. Goldman calling for clearer disclosures so shoppers "can shop confidently without unexpected charges at checkout," according to Sen. Luján’s office.
Regulatory Context
The Federal Trade Commission has already opened an advance-notice rulemaking to ask whether a formal rule is needed to address unfair or deceptive fee practices on food and grocery delivery platforms. The agency’s notice digs into issues like personalized pricing and what exactly must be disclosed to customers, as outlined by the FTC.
Related research shows delivery orders can cost roughly 80 percent more than picking up the same meal in many big metro areas, according to LendingTree.
Industry Impact
Supporters say the bill would curb the surprise charges that make delivery disproportionately expensive and bring back straightforward comparison shopping. Local reporting notes that the House filing, H.R. 8510, has a Senate companion and that sponsors intend the measure to cover third-party marketplaces that list and deliver restaurant and grocery orders, as reported by Brooklyn Eagle.
Legal Implications
If enacted, the PRICE Act would classify undisclosed fees as unfair or deceptive practices under the FTC Act, empower the Commission to issue implementing regulations and bring enforcement actions, and preserve the ability of state attorneys general to sue on behalf of their residents. The bill also specifies that the law would not stop platforms from letting customers add gratuities. Those enforcement details and procedures are set out on Congress.gov.
What Happens Next
The proposal remains in its early stages. Sponsors have filed the measure in the House, where it is expected to undergo committee review while the FTC’s advance-notice rulemaking continues through the public-comment process. If regulators and lawmakers move in parallel, platform checkout screens and fee disclosures could look very different within a year. For now, consumers, restaurants and delivery companies are watching both the rulemaking docket and the legislative calendar closely.
