2026 -- H 7847

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LC005791

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS --

UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES

     Introduced By: Representatives Shallcross Smith, Casey, Cruz, Casimiro, and Fellela

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2026

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 6-13 of the General Laws entitled "Unfair Sales Practices" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     6-13-12.2. Airline tickets -- Flight vouchers.

     (a) "Airline ticket" or "flight voucher" means a record evidencing a promise, made for

monetary or other consideration, by the seller or issuer of record that air travel services will be

provided to the owner of record for the value shown in the record and includes, but is not limited

to:

     (1) A record that contains a microprocessor chip, magnetic strip, or other means of storage

of information that is pre-funded and for which the value is decremented upon each use;

     (2) An airline ticket;

     (3) A flight voucher; or

     (4) A similar record or card.

     (b) Any airline company, or corporation (airline) or travel agency that sells airline tickets

or vouchers shall be required to record the sales and keep an accurate and complete record of each

airline ticket or flight voucher issued. The record shall include the date of issue; the full value of

the airline ticket or flight voucher; and the identification number assigned by the airline to the

airline ticket or flight voucher.

     (c) It shall be unlawful for any airline or travel agency of any kind to charge any surcharge

or additional service or maintenance fee on airline tickets or flight vouchers or to limit the time for

the redemption of airline tickets or flight vouchers or to place an expiration date upon airline tickets

or flight vouchers. No airline ticket, flight voucher or any agreement shall contain language

suggesting that an expiration date may apply to the airline ticket or flight voucher. Any airline or

travel agency that shall violate the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more

than two hundred dollars ($200).

     (d) This section shall not apply to airline tickets or flight vouchers that are distributed to a

traveler pursuant to an awards, loyalty, or promotional program without any money or other thing

of value being given in exchange for the airline ticket or flight voucher. Any restrictions or

limitations that such airline ticket or flight voucher may be subject to shall be disclosed to the

traveler, in writing, at the time the airline ticket or flight voucher are issued to the traveler.

     (e) This section shall not prohibit airlines and travel agencies from refunding any unused

portion of an airline ticket or flight voucher that is issued.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS --

UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES

***

     This act would prohibit expiration dates for airline tickets and flight vouchers. The act

would also require every airline or travel agency to record the sales and keep an accurate and

complete record of each airline ticket or flight voucher issued. The act would also make it unlawful

to charge any surcharge or additional service or maintenance fee on any airline ticket or flight

voucher. The act would allow an exception where airline tickets or flight vouchers are distributed

to a traveler pursuant to an awards, loyalty, or promotional program without any money or other

value being given. Airlines and travel agencies would be able to refund any unused portion of an

airline ticket or flight voucher that is issued.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005791

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