PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10986-10987)
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 9, 2004
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.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
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.
People & committees
Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] · D–NY
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10986-10987)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze S.2969 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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