A Democratic bill with 9 Democratic cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Online Sellers' Bill of Rights Act of 2026 aims to establish protections for third-party sellers using critical trading partners. It seeks to provide due process and transparency to prevent platforms from exerting outsized power over small and independent businesses. The bill directs the Federal Trade Commission to adopt rules regarding inventory holds, fund holds, and gated products. It also requires advance notice for material policy changes and specific details during investigations. Finally, the Act establishes enforcement mechanisms through the Federal Trade Commission and various legal actions.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +8
Would business owners be better off under this?
The bill provides significant due process protections and financial security for those operating businesses on digital platforms.
- Scored +7
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill establishes a presumption of innocence and mandates specific appeal procedures for sellers facing platform sanctions.
- Scored +7
Does this make it easier to run a small business?
The bill protects small and independent third-party sellers from arbitrary inventory holds, fund withholding, and sudden policy changes by dominant platforms.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Inventory Protections: Sellers will not have their inventory held or restricted for more than 30 calendar days unless the platform proves the goods are unlawful or counterfeit (Section 3(a)(1)).
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Fund Accessibility: Platforms are prohibited from withholding a seller's funds for more than 30 days unless they demonstrate the funds come from unlawful transactions (Section 3(a)(2)).
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Notice of Holds: Sellers will receive written notification of inventory or fund holds within 72 hours, including the reason for the hold and how to appeal (Section 3(a)(1) and Section 3(a)(2)).
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Gated Product Relief: If a platform imposes new restrictions on a product already in the fulfillment network, the seller can sell remaining inventory for at least 30 days or have it returned at no cost (Section 3(a)(3)).
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Policy Transparency: Sellers will receive at least 30 days' advance written notice regarding material changes to product eligibility, restrictions, or fee structures (Section 3(a)(4)).
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Investigative Clarity: During investigations or account deactivations, platforms must provide specific rules violated, relevant facts, and clear steps for appeal rather than using generic responses (Section 3(a)(5)).
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Protection Against Arbitrary Action: The act establishes a presumption of innocence, meaning no seller can be suspended or have funds frozen based solely on suspicion (Section 3(a)(6)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Note: The provided text does not explicitly list specific negative impacts or burdens for individuals or groups; it focuses on the protections and requirements being established for the sellers.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill establishes a presumption of innocence and mandates specific appeal procedures for sellers facing platform sanctions. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The act mandates that platforms provide specific, non-generic documentation and reasons for investigations or account actions.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make it easier to run a small business? — The bill protects small and independent third-party sellers from arbitrary inventory holds, fund withholding, and sudden policy changes by dominant platforms. Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — By increasing transparency and due process for sellers, the bill promotes a more predictable and fair marketplace for consumers.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill provides significant due process protections and financial security for those operating businesses on digital platforms.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The bill imposes new regulatory requirements and due process standards on dominant online trading platforms.
- 9/8/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 8 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Pramila JayapalDemocrat · Washington
Summer LeeDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York