The Chamber of Progress urged Maryland lawmakers on Feb. 17 to reject SB 387, a bill that would ban discriminatory surveillance pricing practices in grocery stores. The organization said the proposed legislation could eliminate personalized discounts, coupons, and loyalty programs that help families manage grocery expenses.
The debate over SB 387 comes as many Marylanders face rising food costs. Nearly three in four residents report groceries have become less affordable over the past year, according to recent polling by UMBC. Food prices across the state have continued to climb, placing added strain on family budgets in both urban and rural communities.
The Chamber of Progress submitted written testimony through its Director of State and Local Government Relations to the Maryland Senate Committee on Finance. The testimony addresses SB 387 and its prohibition on surveillance-based price setting in consumer goods and services. The organization shared the General Assembly’s concern about affordability but warned the bill risks backfiring on the families it aims to help.
“Digital coupons and loyalty programs save the average household $1,465 each year,” the Chamber of Progress said in its opposition to SB 387. The organization warned that banning surveillance-based pricing would eliminate these and other personalized discounts that help Maryland families — particularly low-income households with children — stretch their grocery budgets, according to research cited by the group.
The Chamber of Progress is a technology industry association that advocates for public policies supporting innovation and technological advances for all people. The group engages in state and local government relations to promote policies that build a society where everyone benefits from technology, focusing on issues including consumer access to digital tools and modern commerce practices across the United States.
