I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6430 
To limit and eliminate excessive, hidden, and unnecessary fees imposed on 
consumers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 4, 2025 
Ms. BYNUM (for herself and Mrs. SYKES) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition 
to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to 
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To limit and eliminate excessive, hidden, and unnecessary 
fees imposed on consumers, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Junk Fee Prevention 
Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. PROTECTING CONSUMERS FROM EXCESSIVE AND 
HIDDEN FEES. 
(a) 
PROTECTING
CONSUMERS
FROM
HIDDEN 
FEES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A covered entity shall clearly 
and conspicuously display, in each advertisement 
and when a price is first shown to a consumer, the 
total price of the good or service provided by the 
covered entity, including any mandatory fees a con-
sumer would incur during the purchase of the good 
or service and any mandatory government charge re-
lated to such purchase. 
(2) PRICE
CONSISTENCY.—A covered entity 
shall ensure that any mandatory fee incurred by a 
consumer during the purchase process does not 
change from that advertised to the consumer. 
(b) EXCESSIVE FEES.—A covered entity shall not im-
pose on a consumer or advertise any mandatory fees that 
are excessive or deceptive for any good or service offered 
by the covered entity. 
(c) TICKET HOLDBACKS.—If a good or service pro-
vided by a covered entity is a ticket to a sporting event, 
theater, musical performance, or other live performance 
that an audience watches as the live performance occurs, 
the covered entity shall, not less than 72 hours prior to 
the first public sale or presale of such ticket, clearly and 
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conspicuously disclose to the public, including at the point 
of sale, the total number of tickets offered for sale by the 
covered entity or available for the given event. 
(d) PROTECTING REFUNDS.—A covered entity shall 
clearly and conspicuously disclose any guarantee or refund 
policy prior to the completion of a transaction by the con-
sumer and, in the event of a refund, provide a refund in 
the amount of the total cost of the ticket including any 
mandatory fees. 
(e) SPECULATIVE TICKETING.—If a covered entity 
does not possess a ticket at the time of the sale, it shall 
provide to the consumer— 
(1) a clear and conspicuous notice that the cov-
ered entity does not possess the ticket; and 
(2) a full refund if the covered entity cannot 
provide the ticket advertised to the consumer in a 
timely manner prior to the event. 
(f) RULEMAKING
ON
EXCESSIVE
AND
HIDDEN 
FEES.—The Federal Trade Commission may promulgate 
rules in accordance with section 553 of title 5, United 
States Code, regarding the disclosure and imposition of 
mandatory or deceptive fees, including any such fee not 
described in subsections (a) through (e). 
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(g) EXCESSIVE FEES.—In considering whether a 
mandatory fee is excessive, the Federal Trade Commission 
or court shall take into consideration— 
(1) whether the fee is reasonable and propor-
tional to the cost of the good or service provided by 
the covered entity; 
(2) the reason for which the covered entity 
charges such fee; and 
(3) any other factors determined appropriate by 
the Federal Trade Commission or the court. 
(h) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(1) ENFORCEMENT BY THE COMMISSION.— 
(A) UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRAC-
TICES.—A violation of this section or a regula-
tion promulgated thereunder shall be treated as 
a violation of a rule defining an unfair or de-
ceptive 
act 
or 
practice 
under 
section 
18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission 
Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)). 
(B) POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Trade 
Commission shall enforce this section in 
the same manner, by the same means, and 
with the same jurisdiction, powers, and du-
ties as though all applicable terms and pro-
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visions of the Federal Trade Commission 
Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incor-
porated into and made a part of this sec-
tion. 
(ii) PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES.— 
Any person who violates this section or a 
regulation promulgated thereunder shall be 
subject to the penalties and entitled to the 
privileges and immunities provided in the 
Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 
41 et seq.). 
(iii) AUTHORITY PRESERVED.—Noth-
ing in this section shall be construed to 
limit the authority of the Federal Trade 
Commission under any other provision of 
law. 
(2) ENFORCEMENT BY STATES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—If the attorney general 
of a State has reason to believe that a covered 
entity has violated or is violating this section or 
a regulation promulgated thereunder that af-
fects the residents of that State, the State, as 
parens patriae, may bring a civil action in any 
appropriate district court of the United States, 
to— 
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(i) enjoin any further violation by the 
covered entity; 
(ii) enforce compliance with this sec-
tion or such regulation; 
(iii) obtain other remedies permitted 
under State law; and 
(iv) obtain damages, restitution, or 
other compensation on behalf of residents 
of the State. 
(B) NOTICE.—The attorney general of a 
State shall provide prior written notice of any 
action under subparagraph (A) to the Commis-
sion and provide the Commission with a copy of 
the complaint in the action, except in any case 
in which such prior notice is not feasible, in 
which case the attorney general shall serve such 
notice immediately upon instituting such action. 
(C) INTERVENTION
BY
THE
COMMIS-
SION.—Upon receiving notice under subpara-
graph (B), the Commission shall have the 
right— 
(i) to intervene in the action; 
(ii) upon so intervening, to be heard 
on all matters arising therein; and 
(iii) to file petitions for appeal. 
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(D) LIMITATION ON STATE ACTION WHILE 
FEDERAL ACTION IS PENDING.—If the Commis-
sion has instituted a civil action for violation of 
this section or a regulation promulgated there-
under, no attorney general of a State, or official 
or agency of a State, may bring a separate ac-
tion under subparagraph (A) during the pend-
ency of that action against any defendant 
named in the complaint of the Commission for 
any violation of this section or a regulation pro-
mulgated thereunder that is alleged in the com-
plaint. An attorney general of a State, or offi-
cial or agency of a State, may join a civil action 
for a violation of this section or a regulation 
promulgated thereunder filed by the Commis-
sion. 
(E) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—For pur-
poses of bringing a civil action under subpara-
graph (A), nothing in this section shall be con-
strued to prevent the chief law enforcement of-
ficer or official or agency of a State, from exer-
cising the powers conferred on such chief law 
enforcement officer or official or agency of a 
State, by the laws of the State to conduct inves-
tigations, administer oaths or affirmations, or 
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compel the attendance of witnesses or the pro-
duction of documentary and other evidence. 
(i) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED ENTITY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘covered en-
tity’’ means— 
(i) a provider of short-term lodging or 
an online platform that allows for the 
booking of short-term lodging; 
(ii) a provider of a ticketing service 
that sells tickets for an event or retains the 
authority to otherwise distribute tickets for 
such event, whether as a primary seller of 
tickets or in the secondary marketplace for 
ticket sales; or 
(iii) any other entity determined ap-
propriate by the Commission through a 
rulemaking in accordance with section 553 
of title 5, United States Code. 
(B) SHORT-TERM LODGING.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii), the term ‘‘short-term lodg-
ing’’ means any lodging that is offered for 
an occupancy of less than 6 months or 
temporary sleeping accommodations at a 
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hotel, motel, inn, short-term rental, vaca-
tion rental, or other place of lodging. 
(ii) EXCLUSION.—The term ‘‘short- 
term lodging’’ shall not include an accom-
modation of 6 months or more through a 
landlord-tenant relationship. 
(2) DECEPTIVE
FEE.—The term ‘‘deceptive 
fee’’ includes— 
(A) any fee for which the nature, purpose, 
amount, or refundability of such fee is mis-
represented; and 
(B) any mandatory fee misrepresented as 
an optional fee that a consumer must opt out 
of. 
(3) MANDATORY FEE.—The term ‘‘mandatory 
fee’’ includes— 
(A) any fee or surcharge that a consumer 
is required to pay to purchase a good or service 
being advertised; 
(B) a fee or surcharge that is not reason-
ably avoidable; 
(C) a fee or surcharge for a good or service 
that a reasonable consumer would not expect to 
be included with the purchase of the good or 
service being advertised; or 
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(D) any other fee or surcharge determined 
appropriate by the Commission. 
SEC. 3. COMMUNICATIONS SERVICE FEES. 
(a) ENDING EARLY TERMINATION FEES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A provider of a covered serv-
ice may not charge a fee to, or impose a requirement 
that is excessive or unreasonable on, a consumer for 
the termination of a covered service before the end 
of any period specified in any agreement between the 
provider and the consumer. 
(2) 
ENDING
EXCESS
BILLING
CYCLE 
CHARGES.—After termination of a covered service, 
the provider of the covered service shall provide to 
the consumer a prorated credit or rebate for the re-
maining days in the billing cycle. 
(3) DEVICE
PURCHASE
AND
RETURN.—This 
subsection does not prevent a provider of a covered 
service from charging a consumer for— 
(A) the cost of rental or loan equipment 
that is not returned to the provider within a 
reasonable period of time; or 
(B) the outstanding cost of a purchased 
device. 
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(4) REGULATIONS.—The Federal Communica-
tions Commission may promulgate regulations to 
carry out this subsection. 
(b) TRUTH IN BILLING AND ADVERTISING.— 
(1) AGGREGATE PRICE TRANSPARENCY IN BILL-
ING.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A provider of a covered 
service shall state an aggregate price for the 
covered service through a single, clear, easy-to- 
understand, and accurate line item on the bill 
of a consumer, including a bill for a legacy or 
grandfathered covered service plan. 
(B) DISCLOSURE OF END DATE OF INTRO-
DUCTORY OR TEMPORARY PRICE.—A provider 
of a covered service shall state, on the bill of 
each consumer paying an introductory or tem-
porary price, the date on which the introductory 
or temporary price ends by disclosing— 
(i) either— 
(I) the period during which the 
discounted price will be charged; or 
(II) the date on which the period 
will end, resulting in a price change 
for the covered service; and 
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(ii) the post-promotion rate not later 
than— 
(I) 60 days before the date on 
which the introductory or temporary 
price ends; and 
(II) 30 days before such date. 
(C) ITEMIZATION.—A provider of a cov-
ered service may state an itemized explanation 
of the elements that compose the aggregate 
price required by subparagraph (A) on the bill 
of a consumer. 
(2) AGGREGATE
PRICE
TRANSPARENCY
FOR 
PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—A provider of a covered 
service that communicates a price for the cov-
ered service in promotional materials shall state 
an aggregate price for the covered service and, 
at the option of the provider of the covered 
service, an itemized explanation of the elements 
of such price in a clear, easy-to-understand, and 
accurate manner. 
(B) DISCLOSURE
OF
LOCATION-DEPEND-
ENT PRICING.—If the aggregate price described 
in subparagraph (A) fluctuates based on service 
location, the provider of a covered service shall 
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state where and how a consumer may obtain 
the location-specific aggregate price, such as 
electronically or by contacting a customer serv-
ice or sales representative. 
(C) DISCLOSURE OF TEMPORARY AGGRE-
GATE PRICING.—If part or all of the aggregate 
price described in subparagraph (A) is tem-
porary, a provider of a covered service shall 
state the post-promotion rate, the date on 
which the post-promotion rate was calculated, 
and the period for which each rate applies in 
the promotional materials. 
(D) ITEMIZATION.—A provider of a cov-
ered service may state an itemized explanation 
of the elements that compose the aggregate 
price required by subparagraph (A) in the pro-
motional materials. 
(E) EXCEPTION.—The requirements under 
this paragraph shall not apply to the marketing 
of legacy or grandfathered covered service plans 
that are not generally available to new cus-
tomers. 
(c) RULEMAKING ON MANDATORY FEES.— 
(1) INITIAL
RULEMAKING
PROCEEDING.—Not 
later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
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this Act, the Federal Communications Commission 
shall commence a rulemaking proceeding— 
(A) to consider whether and how the Fed-
eral Communications Commission should— 
(i) require the disclosure of manda-
tory fees with respect to a covered service; 
or 
(ii) prohibit the imposition of manda-
tory fees with respect to a covered service, 
in particular any such fee that a consumer 
would reasonably assume to be included in 
the advertised price of such service; and 
(B) in which the Federal Communications 
Commission may promulgate regulations to im-
plement the requirements or prohibitions de-
scribed in subparagraph (A). 
(2) SUBSEQUENT STUDY OR REGULATIONS.— 
Any time after the completion of the rulemaking 
proceeding required under paragraph (1), the Fed-
eral Communications Commission may conduct a 
study or promulgate regulations regarding manda-
tory fees with respect to covered services. 
(d) ENFORCEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A violation of this section or 
a regulation promulgated under this section shall be 
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treated as a violation of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) or a regulation pro-
mulgated under that Act. 
(2) MANNER OF ENFORCEMENT.—The Federal 
Communications Commission shall enforce this sec-
tion and the regulations promulgated under this sec-
tion in the same manner, by the same means, and 
with the same jurisdiction, powers, and duties as 
though all applicable terms and provisions of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et 
seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this 
section. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COVERED
SERVICE.—The term ‘‘covered 
service’’— 
(A) means— 
(i) broadband internet access service 
(as defined in section 8.1(b) of title 47, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or any suc-
cessor regulation)); 
(ii) voice service (as defined in section 
227(e)(8) of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 227(e)(8))); 
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(iii) commercial mobile service (as de-
fined in section 332(d) of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 332(d))); 
(iv) commercial mobile data service 
(as defined in section 6001 of the Middle 
Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 
2012 (47 U.S.C. 1401)); or 
(v) a service provided by a multi-
channel video programming distributor (as 
defined in section 602 of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 522)), to the 
extent that such distributor is acting as a 
multichannel 
video 
programming 
dis-
tributor; and 
(B) includes any other service offered or 
provided as part of a bundle or package with 
any service described in clauses (i) through (v) 
of subparagraph (A). 
(2) MANDATORY FEE.—The term ‘‘mandatory 
fee’’ includes— 
(A) any fee or surcharge that a consumer 
is required to pay to purchase a covered service; 
(B) any fee or surcharge that is not rea-
sonably avoidable; 
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(C) a fee or surcharge for a good or service 
that a reasonable consumer would not expect to 
be included with the purchase of the good or 
service being advertised; and 
(D) any other fee or surcharge determined 
appropriate by the Federal Communications 
Commission. 
(3) PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL.—The term ‘‘pro-
motional material’’ includes video programming in 
which a provider of a covered service advertises or 
markets a covered service to consumers. 
SEC. 4. AIR CARRIER ANCILLARY FEE TRANSPARENCY. 
(a) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.—Section 41708 of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) ANCILLARY FEES.— 
‘‘(1) QUARTERLY REPORTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
require any air carrier or foreign air carrier op-
erating in the United States to file with the 
Secretary a report for each quarter of the fiscal 
year on the total revenue such air carrier or 
foreign air carrier earned from ancillary fees 
(as defined in paragraph (2)). 
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‘‘(B) CONTENTS.—A quarterly report filed 
by an air carrier or foreign air carrier under 
subparagraph (A) shall include, at a minimum, 
the following information: 
‘‘(i) The revenue received from ancil-
lary fees during the reporting period, pro-
vided in an exact dollar amount, includ-
ing— 
‘‘(I) the total amount received; 
‘‘(II) 
the 
total 
amount 
disaggregated by each critical ancil-
lary service provided; and 
‘‘(III) 
the 
total 
amount 
disaggregated by class of service. 
‘‘(ii) The manner in which the air car-
rier or foreign air carrier collects ancillary 
fees, including whether the fee for a crit-
ical ancillary service is included in the base 
fare price or charged to the consumer 
through another method. 
‘‘(iii) The average dollar amount 
charged to a consumer for each critical an-
cillary service provided. 
‘‘(C) PUBLICATION.—Notwithstanding sec-
tion 329(b)(1)(A), the Secretary shall compile 
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the information provided in the quarterly re-
ports filed pursuant to subparagraph (A) in a 
single quarterly report (which shall include a 
comparison of the total revenue received from 
ancillary fees by each air carrier or foreign air 
carrier) and publish such report on the internet 
website of the Department of Transportation. 
‘‘(2) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub-
section: 
‘‘(A) ANCILLARY FEES.—The term ‘ancil-
lary fees’ means any fee charged, through a di-
rect payment or other form of compensation, by 
an air carrier or foreign air carrier for the pro-
vision of— 
‘‘(i) a critical ancillary service; or 
‘‘(ii) any other service not subject to 
taxation under section 4261 of the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986. 
‘‘(B) CRITICAL ANCILLARY SERVICE.—The 
term ‘critical ancillary service’ means, with re-
spect to an air carrier or foreign air carrier, 
any supplemental service provided by the air 
carrier or foreign air carrier that is critical to 
the purchasing decision of a consumer, includ-
ing— 
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‘‘(i) transporting checked or carry-on 
baggage; 
‘‘(ii) modifying or canceling a reserva-
tion; 
‘‘(iii) selecting or otherwise indicating 
a preference for seating on an aircraft; or 
‘‘(iv) any other service determined ap-
propriate by the Secretary.’’. 
(b) RECORD REQUIREMENTS.—Section 41709(a) of 
title 49, United States Code, is amended by inserting ‘‘(in-
cluding information regarding the source of revenue and 
whether such money was received from a base fare price 
or from an ancillary fee (as defined in section 41708(d))’’ 
after ‘‘receipts and expenditures of money’’. 
Æ 
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