This legislation would create a commission to investigate the economic impact of the Commonwealth’s minimum pricing laws on businesses and residents. The commission will be tasked with analyzing the potential for beneficial economic impact from the Commonwealth’s minimum pricing laws and determine, if appropriate, whether certain minimum pricing laws should be adjusted to better assist businesses within the Commonwealth.

After World War II, many minimum pricing laws were originally instituted as protections to prevent wholesalers and retailers from using certain products as “loss leaders.” Despite the length of time these laws have been in place, the Commonwealth’s minimum pricing laws, including regulations governing the same, have not been revisited or studied in years. As time has passed, technology and advances in federal law have had different impacts on minimum pricing laws, sometimes benefitting states and sometimes hurting them.