Florida will overhaul restaurant bill displays, unveiling one of the toughest transparency laws in the U.S. This new regulation addresses growing frustrations over hidden fees in dining bills.
Law Details
The legislation, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, takes effect on July 1, 2026. It mandates that restaurants disclose any fees like service charges, automatic gratuities, credit card surcharges, or delivery fees.
Key requirements include:
- Displaying extra charges before ordering on menus, websites, and apps
- Stating exact fee percentages or dollar amounts
- Explaining fee purposes in clear text
- Itemizing charges separately on bills and receipts
This law doesn’t ban surcharges. Instead, it ensures full cost transparency before dining.
Reasons for Change
The change responds to complaints from diners about surprise end-of-meal fees. Many report overlapping charges, like service fees and preset gratuities, causing confusion and trust issues.
The law aims to eliminate misleading pricing practices where menu prices appear lower than final bills. Transparency allows accurate price comparisons for consumers.
Impact on Consumers
Diners will benefit from clearer restaurant pricing. From July 1, 2026, consumers can:
- See total costs upfront
- Understand fee purposes and allocations
- Make informed dining choices
The law should minimize confusion and unexpected expenses, empowering consumer spending control.
Expansion to Other States?
Florida’s approach is part of a broader trend of state-level transparency laws. At the federal level, the FTC’s Rule on Unfair Fees, effective in May 2025, targets industries like ticketing, not restaurants.
States lead with legislation for clearer pricing. Here’s how they compare:
Similar State Rules
- California: SB 478 and SB 1524 mandate fee inclusion in advertised prices and disclosure for service charges.
- Massachusetts: Requires upfront price disclosure, detailing fee nature and purpose.
- Colorado and Connecticut: Introduced cross-industry laws for total pricing or mandatory fee disclosure.
- Minnesota and Oregon: Passed laws for upfront cost disclosure in ads.
New York’s Worker Protections
New York’s approach focuses on worker tips and fee disclosure.
- Service charges presumed as tips, fully allocated to workers unless stated otherwise
- Mandatory surcharge disclosure before ordering in New York City
While not labeled as a junk fee ban, similar effects are achieved through clear fee communication.
Conclusion
Florida’s law is notable for its specificity in restaurant fee display requirements. It could serve as a test case for others seeking to reduce consumer complaints without disrupting operations.
The trend favors upfront pricing and transparency, aligning Florida’s law with broader efforts to eliminate surprise checkout charges.
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