HB1301 amends the Virginia Post-Disaster Anti-Price Gouging Act to broaden the definition of “consumer transaction” to include business-related goods and services. It also extends the “time of disaster” to either the state-of-emergency duration or 30 days after the disaster, whichever is longer.
The Virginia State House of Delegates passed HB1301 on March 4, 2024 by a vote of 88 to 8. We have assigned pluses to the nays because it expands government intervention in the economy. By broadening the definition of “consumer transaction” to include business-related goods and services, the bill increases regulatory control over private enterprise, restricting the ability of businesses to set prices based on supply and demand. Instead of allowing the free market to respond to post-disaster conditions, HB1301 imposes arbitrary price controls that could lead to shortages and inefficiencies.