AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES (Prohibits expiration dates for airline tickets and flight vouchers.)

H7847

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:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 6-13 of the General Laws entitled "Unfair Sales Practices" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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6-13-12.2. Airline tickets -- Flight vouchers.

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(a) "Airline ticket" or "flight voucher" means a record evidencing a promise, made for
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monetary or other consideration, by the seller or issuer of record that air travel services will be
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provided to the owner of record for the value shown in the record and includes, but is not limited
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to:
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(1) A record that contains a microprocessor chip, magnetic strip, or other means of storage
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of information that is pre-funded and for which the value is decremented upon each use;
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(2) An airline ticket;
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(3) A flight voucher; or
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(4) A similar record or card.
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(b) Any airline company, or corporation (airline) or travel agency that sells airline tickets
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or vouchers shall be required to record the sales and keep an accurate and complete record of each
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airline ticket or flight voucher issued. The record shall include the date of issue; the full value of
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the airline ticket or flight voucher; and the identification number assigned by the airline to the
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airline ticket or flight voucher.
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(c) It shall be unlawful for any airline or travel agency of any kind to charge any surcharge

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or additional service or maintenance fee on airline tickets or flight vouchers or to limit the time for
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the redemption of airline tickets or flight vouchers or to place an expiration date upon airline tickets
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or flight vouchers. No airline ticket, flight voucher or any agreement shall contain language
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suggesting that an expiration date may apply to the airline ticket or flight voucher. Any airline or
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travel agency that shall violate the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more
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than two hundred dollars ($200).
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(d) This section shall not apply to airline tickets or flight vouchers that are distributed to a
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traveler pursuant to an awards, loyalty, or promotional program without any money or other thing
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of value being given in exchange for the airline ticket or flight voucher. Any restrictions or
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limitations that such airline ticket or flight voucher may be subject to shall be disclosed to the
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traveler, in writing, at the time the airline ticket or flight voucher are issued to the traveler.
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(e) This section shall not prohibit airlines and travel agencies from refunding any unused
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portion of an airline ticket or flight voucher that is issued.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC005791
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LC005791 - Page 2 of 3
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS --
UNFAIR SALES PRACTICES
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This act would prohibit expiration dates for airline tickets and flight vouchers. The act
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would also require every airline or travel agency to record the sales and keep an accurate and
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complete record of each airline ticket or flight voucher issued. The act would also make it unlawful
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to charge any surcharge or additional service or maintenance fee on any airline ticket or flight
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voucher. The act would allow an exception where airline tickets or flight vouchers are distributed
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to a traveler pursuant to an awards, loyalty, or promotional program without any money or other
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value being given. Airlines and travel agencies would be able to refund any unused portion of an
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airline ticket or flight voucher that is issued.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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LC005791
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