Hawaii Joins Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Oregon, and Other States in Cracking Down on Hidden Travel Charges Maintain a Hassle Free Tourst Experience and Boost US Tourism Growth This Year: Everything You Need To Know

Published on February 24, 2026

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Hawaii is stepping up alongside states like Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Oregon, and others in taking decisive action against hidden travel charges. By cracking down on deceptive “drip pricing” practices, Hawaii aims to ensure a hassle-free tourist experience for travelers and enhance the transparency of the tourism industry. This move is expected to foster U.S. tourism growth in 2026 by improving the overall travel experience and building greater consumer trust. As more states prioritize transparency and fair pricing, Hawaii’s commitment to disclosing all fees upfront will contribute to a broader effort to eliminate surprise charges, making it easier for tourists to enjoy a clear and predictable vacation. The push for transparency aligns with the growing trend of consumer advocacy and is poised to boost tourism across the U.S. this year. With Hawaii leading the charge in the Pacific, the state is ensuring that its iconic destinations remain attractive to visitors, reinforcing its commitment to making travel more straightforward and enjoyable.

Hawaii: Targeting Hidden Fees in Tourism and Events

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Hawaii’s SB 1035, introduced for 2025/2026, focuses on the state’s most vital industries: short-term lodging and live-event ticketing. The law aims to protect both residents and visitors from the rising issue of “drip pricing”—the practice of adding extra fees for services like resort fees, cleaning charges, or event-related add-ons at the end of a transaction. The bill mandates that businesses in these sectors disclose the total cost upfront, including all fees such as resort or service charges, from the very first point of contact with the consumer.

• Effective Date: Legislation introduced for 2025/2026
• Targets short-term lodging (hotels, Airbnbs) and live-event ticketing.
• Mandates full cost disclosure at the first point of contact (including resort fees).
• Aims to prevent “drip pricing” and hidden charges in tourism and event industries.
• Focus on transparency for consumers in Hawaii’s major economic sectors.

For travelers booking accommodations through hotels or platforms like Airbnb and for those purchasing tickets to live events, this law ensures that the price consumers see is the price they’ll actually pay. This move is expected to provide a more honest and straightforward booking experience.

Massachusetts: The Bay State Joins the Price Transparency Movement

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Massachusetts is set to join the growing list of states prioritizing price transparency with a new law scheduled to take effect in March 2025. This regulation will require businesses across various industries, including hospitality, travel, and ticketing, to disclose the total price upfront, including all mandatory service fees. This effort aims to combat “drip pricing”, a tactic where additional fees are added at the checkout stage, often leading to confusion and frustration for consumers. Massachusetts’ Attorney General’s office will be responsible for enforcing this regulation, ensuring that service providers comply with the new rules.

• Effective Date: March 2025
• Requires upfront disclosure of total price, including mandatory service fees.
• Enforced by Attorney General‘s office.
• Targets industries like hospitality, travel, and ticketing.
• Aims to combat “drip pricing” and hidden fees.
• Expected to serve as a model for neighboring states.

For travelers booking accommodations through hotels or platforms like Airbnb and for those purchasing tickets to live events, this law ensures that the total cost is clearly stated from the start. This shift will provide consumers with greater peace of mind and ensure a fairer pricing environment in Massachusetts.

California: Leading the Charge in Junk Fee Transparency

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California is set to take a major step toward improving price transparency with the introduction of SB 478, scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2024. Often referred to as the “Gold Standard,” this law bans the use of “drip pricing”—the practice of adding hidden fees during the checkout process—across most industries. Businesses will be required to disclose all mandatory fees in the advertised price upfront, including those for travel and hotel services, where hidden resort fees or destination fees must now be included in the advertised rate. Although restaurants were granted a slight carve-out to list surcharges separately, these additional charges must still be clearly communicated to customers before finalizing their purchase.

California’s groundbreaking law is poised to set a national precedent in combating deceptive pricing practices, especially in the hospitality and travel industries. The state has long been a leader in consumer protection, and this new regulation further solidifies California’s reputation as a champion for fair pricing and transparency. By requiring businesses to clearly list all fees from the start, this law will provide customers with more predictable costs and help eliminate the frustration and confusion often caused by hidden charges at the point of sale. As businesses begin to comply with this regulation, consumers will benefit from a more straightforward and transparent purchasing experience.

• Effective Date: July 1, 2024
• Bans “drip pricing” across industries, including travel and hotel services.
• Requires all mandatory fees to be included in the advertised price.
• Restaurants granted a carve-out but must still disclose surcharges transparently.
• Sets a national precedent for fee transparency and consumer protection.
• Enhances predictable costs for customers and eliminates deceptive pricing practices.

Oregon: Leading the Charge with Digital Transparency

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Effective January 1, 2026, Oregon is setting a new standard for online price transparency with the introduction of SB 430, which specifically targets online sales. This law requires businesses to include all mandatory fees in the advertised price for goods and services, ensuring consumers are fully aware of the total cost upfront. Exemptions include government-imposed taxes and shipping fees, but the law mandates that any service fees, like delivery charges, which are based on distance, must be disclosed prominently before the final payment. This move is designed to combat hidden fees, often referred to as “junk fees,” which can surprise customers during checkout. By forcing companies to disclose the full cost at the beginning of the transaction, Oregon is promoting a more transparent and consumer-friendly environment, allowing shoppers to make informed decisions without unexpected add-ons.

• Effective Date: January 1, 2026
• Requires businesses to include all mandatory fees in the advertised price.
• Exemptions: Government taxes and shipping fees.
• Service fees (e.g., delivery) must be disclosed prominently before final payment.
• Aims to eliminate hidden charges and create a transparent shopping experience.

As one of the first states to implement such broad digital transparency for online transactions, Oregon is leading the charge in ensuring consumers pay what they expect without hidden charges, especially in industries like e-commerce, travel, and services.

Illinois: The Junk Fee Ban Act

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Illinois is making significant strides to combat hidden fees with its Junk Fee Ban Act (SB 1486), a proposed law that mirrors California’s approach to price transparency. Set for implementation in 2025-2026, this law targets retail mercantile establishments and food service providers, requiring them to display the full price, including all fees, upfront. The goal is to eliminate the sneaky “junk fees” that often appear as surprise charges on concert tickets, hotel bookings, car dealerships, and more. The Illinois Junk Fee Ban Act ensures that the “sticker price” is the final price, offering consumers peace of mind when making purchases.

• Effective Date: Pending final implementation (2025-2026)
• SB 1486 ensures retailers and food service providers display the total price upfront.
• Aims to eliminate “junk fees” on concert tickets, hotel bookings, car dealerships, and more.
• “Sticker price” must be the final price, removing surprise charges.
• Follows the example of California’s transparency laws for consumer protection.

By holding businesses accountable for clearly displaying the total cost from the outset, Illinois is setting a new standard for consumer protection, pushing the retail and food service industries to adopt fairer pricing practices.

Pennsylvania & Maryland: Strengthening Fee Transparency Laws

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In 2025 and 2026, both Pennsylvania and Maryland are making significant strides toward eliminating hidden charges with a surge in “junk fee” bills. These states are actively debating broader transparency laws that would bring them in line with the standards set by New York and California. Maryland has recently targeted “predatory pricing” by banning surge pricing on essential goods, like groceries, ensuring that consumers aren’t unfairly charged during emergencies or high-demand periods.

• Status: Legislative sessions in 2025 and 2026
• Focus: Banning “junk fees” in retail, travel, and hospitality sectors.
• Maryland recently passed laws to ban surge pricing on essential goods.
• Transparency laws being debated to align with New York and California standards.
• Both states working toward full price disclosure in retail, tourism, and more.

Both states are now focused on expanding these protections by introducing legislation aimed at requiring full price disclosure, particularly for industries like travel, hospitality, and retail. Pennsylvania and Maryland are taking a proactive approach to ensure a clearer and more transparent pricing system, which would empower consumers to make informed decisions and protect them from surprise charges. These states are aiming to create a fairer marketplace for all consumers, ensuring greater accountability in industries where hidden fees are all too common.

U.S. States Lead the Charge in Eliminating Hidden Fees for Travel Transparency

In 2026, New York joined a growing list of states—including Minnesota, Virginia, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Connecticut—in enforcing hidden fee bans to promote price transparency across the U.S. travel industry. This collective effort aims to tackle the increasingly prevalent issue of “drip pricing”, where mandatory fees, such as resort or destination charges, are added at checkout, frustrating consumers. These new regulations require businesses in sectors like hotels, airlines, and event ticketing to disclose all mandatory fees upfront in the advertised price. For example, New York City’s legislation, effective February 21, 2026, bans hotels from advertising room rates without including mandatory fees like resort or destination charges. Similarly, California’s SB 478 (effective July 1, 2024) requires full price disclosure across industries. States like Colorado and Massachusetts are adopting similar measures to ensure travelers are fully informed before making a purchase. This movement towards price transparency is expected to foster greater consumer trust, eliminate surprise costs, and lead to more predictable pricing in the travel industry. As more states follow suit, the overall travel experience will become clearer and fairer, benefiting both consumers and businesses alike.

Hawaii is joining Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Oregon, and other states in cracking down on hidden travel charges to maintain a hassle-free tourist experience. This effort aims to boost U.S. tourism growth by ensuring transparency and building trust among travelers.

Conclusion

Hawaii is following in the footsteps of Massachusetts, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Oregon, and other states by cracking down on hidden travel charges. This collaborative effort aims to maintain a hassle-free tourist experience for visitors while promoting U.S. tourism growth in 2026. By increasing transparency and eliminating surprise fees, these states are ensuring a more predictable and trustworthy travel experience, which will undoubtedly attract more tourists. Hawaii’s commitment to clearer pricing will not only improve the visitor experience but also contribute to the overall rebound and growth of the U.S. tourism sector this year. As more states adopt similar measures, the U.S. is poised to see a significant boost in tourism, making it a more appealing destination for travelers worldwide.