S. 2969: Fair Gift Card Act

108th Congress · introduced 2004-10-09 · Finance and Financial Sector · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10986-10987)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2004-10-09 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10986-10987) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Fair Gift Card Act

Plain summary

Fair Gift Card Act - States it is unlawful for any person to impose a dormancy fee, inactivity charge or fee, or a service fee with respect to a gift certificate, store gift card, or general-use prepaid card. Exempts from this prohibition any such charge or fee if: (1) the certificate or card has a remaining value of $5 or less at the time the charge or fee is assessed; (2) the charge or fee does not exceed $1; (3) there has been no activity with respect to the certificate or card for at least the last 24 months; (4) the holder of the certificate or the card may reload or add value to the certificate or the card; and (5) specified charge or fee disclosure requirements have been met. Declares it is unlawful to sell or issue a gift certificate, store gift card, or general-use prepaid card that is subject to an expiration date unless the date is not less than five years from the date the card is purchased and the expiration terms are prominently disclosed in specified font size and in all capital letters. States that a violation of this Act shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Fair Gift Card Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Sponsor's campaign money: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] reported raising $1.2 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Rulemaking: The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108s2969.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/s>

Record fed-us-cong108-s2969 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108