By Bob Katzen

Senate 37-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that amends a current law which exempts smaller convenience stores from being required to display unit pricing. Unit pricing is the identification of and labeling of items for sale with the retail price per unit, permitting easier price comparisons among similar products in different sized containers.

Under current law, an exemption from unit pricing is given to retailers with lower sales volumes—defined as establishments that generate less than $5 million in in-store sales each year, including sales of Lottery products and gift cards. The bill would remove Lottery products and gift card sales from the calculation of whether a store can be included in the unit price exemption.

Bill supporters said that with the steady rise of inflation, introduction of higher-value Lottery products and increased popularity of pre-paid gift cards, local businesses are more apt to exceed the exemption threshold.

“The unit pricing exemption is a simple way to cut expenses for small businesses and support the communities they serve,” said Sen. Mike Moore (D-Millbury), the bill’s lead sponsor. “However, in the two decades since the policy was written into law, the $5 million revenue threshold for the exemption has remained the same while the cost of products has risen significantly. This legislation makes small tweaks to how a store’s revenue is calculated to ensure the law continues to apply to the corner stores and small businesses it was originally intended to protect.”

“By exempting Lottery tickets and prepaid gift card sales from the unit pricing threshold calculation, we are helping ensure the financial health of our small, neighborhood convenience stores,” said co-sponsor Sen. Pavel Payano (D-Lawrence) “I was proud to help advance this update, which strikes the right balance between protecting consumers and supporting our small businesses.”

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)

Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes