Fair Competition for Small Business Act

Summary#

This bill amends the Clayton Act to allow a State attorney general to bring a civil action for damages as parens patriae for injuries caused by price discrimination that violate the Robinson-Patman Act. The change inserts a reference into 15 U.S.C. 15c(a)(1) to permit such actions in addition to existing references to Sherman Act violations.

What it means for you#

• If you are a State attorney general: the bill would let your office sue for money damages on behalf of the state's citizens or businesses when price discrimination occurs under the Robinson-Patman Act.
• If you are a business that believes it suffered unlawful price discrimination: your State attorney general could potentially bring a damages claim on your behalf.
• If you are an individual consumer: the text does not describe any new, direct consumer-specific relief or procedures beyond allowing state parens patriae damage actions.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on expected federal or state costs or a Congressional Budget Office score is included in the bill text or metadata provided.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information on proponents' statements, detailed goals, or supporting arguments is included in the provided text or metadata.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information on opponents' statements, concerns, or counterarguments is included in the provided text or metadata.