On July 21, 2026, Rep. Becca Balint of Vermont introduced H.R. 9799, the Online Sellers’ Bill of Rights Act, in the House. This bill would fundamentally shift the burden of proof in marketplace enforcement by requiring Amazon, Walmart, and other dominant e-commerce platforms to demonstrate wrongdoing before suspending a seller’s account — reversing the current practice of suspension first, appeals later.
What the Bill Proposes
- Burden of proof shift: Marketplaces would be required to establish evidence of a policy violation or wrongdoing before taking suspension action, rather than suspending accounts and leaving sellers to fight for reinstatement.
- Applies to dominant platforms: The requirements would apply to large marketplaces including Amazon and Walmart.
- Affects seller account health: This is foundational legislation aimed at protecting seller livelihoods from account actions that can occur with limited transparency.
Why This Matters for Sellers Now
Account suspensions remain one of the most severe and sudden threats to an FBA business. While this bill is still in early legislative stages, it reflects growing congressional attention to seller vulnerability in the Amazon ecosystem. Sellers should monitor its progress and understand that policy advocacy at the federal level is underway on their behalf.
How Squatio Helps
While this bill addresses the regulatory environment sellers operate in, Squatio Decode (ASIN lookup, listing visibility & Sentiment IQ review analysis) helps you monitor your current listing health and review sentiment in real time. Staying proactive about listing quality, review authenticity, and policy compliance now can help minimize suspension risk while regulatory protections evolve. Additionally, Prospect (Product Database) enables you to diversify your product portfolio so your business isn’t dependent on a single ASIN — a practical hedge against account volatility regardless of future policy changes.
Have you experienced an account suspension or warning? What policies or actions do you think need clearer visibility before a suspension is triggered?
Source: Congress Just Introduced a Bill That Would Force Amazon to Prove Suspensions Before Acting