HB 2383 — An Act amending the act of October 31, 2006 (P.L.1210, No.133), known as the Price Gouging Act, further providing for definitions; and providing for petroleum product price gouging prohibited.

PRINTER'S NO.   3197

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 2383
                                                 Session of
                                                   2026

     INTRODUCED BY BIZZARRO, SANCHEZ, GUZMAN, GUENST, PROBST, PARKER,
        HILL-EVANS, GOUGHNOUR, HANBIDGE, INGLIS, KENYATTA, GALLAGHER,
        CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, HADDOCK, STEELE, CIRESI AND CURRY,
        APRIL 14, 2026

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, APRIL 15, 2026


                                      AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of October 31, 2006 (P.L.1210, No.133),
 2      entitled "An act prohibiting price gouging; and imposing
 3      penalties," further providing for definitions; and providing
 4      for petroleum product price gouging prohibited.
 5      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 6   hereby enacts as follows:
 7      Section 1.    The definition of "unconscionably excessive" in
 8   section 3 of the act of October 31, 2006 (P.L.1210, No.133),
 9   known as the Price Gouging Act, is amended and the section is
10   amended by adding definitions to read:
11   Section 3.   Definitions.
12      The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
13   have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
14   context clearly indicates otherwise:
15      * * *
16      "Market emergency."      An abnormal disruption of a market for
17   petroleum products, including an actual or threatened shortage
18   in the supply of petroleum products or an actual or threatened
 1   increase in the price of petroleum products resulting from
 2   severe weather, convulsion of nature, supply manipulation,
 3   failure or shortage of electric power or other source of energy,
 4   strike, civil disorder, act of war, terrorist attack, national
 5   or local emergency or other extraordinary adverse circumstances.
 6      "Petroleum product."    A motor fuel, liquefied petroleum gas
 7   or fuel oil.
 8      "Petroleum-related business."       A producer, supplier,
 9   wholesaler, distributor or retail seller of a petroleum product.
10      * * *
11      "Unconscionably excessive."    A price is unconscionably
12   excessive when the amount charged represents a gross disparity
13   between the price of the consumer goods or services and the
14   price at which the consumer goods or services were sold or
15   offered for sale within the chain of distribution in the usual
16   course of business seven days immediately prior to the state of
17   disaster emergency or market emergency.
18      Section 2.    The act is amended by adding a section to read:
19   Section 4.1.    Petroleum product price gouging prohibited.
20      (a)   Prohibition.--It shall be a violation of this act for a
21   petroleum-related business to alter the price of a petroleum
22   product or derivatives of a petroleum product more than once
23   within a 24-hour period.
24      (b)   Market emergency.--A market emergency may be declared by
25   the Governor and shall continue for 30 days or until terminated
26   by the Governor. The Governor may extend the market emergency
27   for additional 30-day periods.
28      (c)   Violation of market emergency.--It shall be an unfair
29   and deceptive act and practice in commerce and a violation of
30   this act for a petroleum-related business, during a market

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1   emergency declared by the Governor under subsection (b), to sell
2   or offer to sell a petroleum product or heating fuel product for
3   an amount that represents an unconscionably excessive price.
4      Section 3.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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