Large grocery chains would report prices for store-brand staples

Covered grocery chains would send the state monthly reports on store-brand staple foods. The rule would cover chains that operate or franchise at least five qualifying Indiana food stores. Reports would cover listed staples such as milk, eggs, and bread. Convenience stores primarily selling a limited range of goods would be excluded unless they regularly offer every listed staple. A chain would mark a staple as “Not Offered” if it sells no store-brand version in Indiana. Starting July 1, 2026, chains would report the previous month's data by the 15th of each month, or the next business day if needed.

Chains would confirm their reports and keep records that back up the data. These duties would apply to chains required to report staple food data. An officer or authorized representative would confirm each report after a reasonable check. The state agriculture department could inspect supporting records after giving reasonable notice. Starting July 1, 2026, chains would keep supporting records for the immediately preceding three years.

The state agriculture department would put reported data on a public comparison website. Anyone could compare data across covered chains and over time. The website would provide access to past reported data for at least five years. The website could not show information that identifies individual shoppers. The department could group wholesale prices or delay posting them by up to 30 days. Starting July 1, 2026, the department would post each month's data within 15 days after reports are due, apart from any allowed delay for wholesale prices.

The attorney general could sue over reporting violations, and courts could impose penalties. These rules would apply to grocery chains covered by the reporting requirement. A court could fine a chain up to $1,000 per day for a late report or up to $10,000 for deliberately reporting important false information. Before suing solely over a late filing, the attorney general would have to give the chain seven days to file. Filing within that time would prevent a suit over that missed deadline. These enforcement rules would take effect July 1, 2026.