Commissioner Natalie Hodge told the Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture that the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs (DLCA) is finalizing a contract to deliver an integrated, web‑based licensing and enforcement management system that will combine business and professional licensing, consumer complaints, weights and measures and alcohol enforcement into a single platform. “Work is anticipated to commence before the end of this calendar year,” Hodge said.

Hodge said the new platform will offer real‑time license verification, secure online payments, automated renewal reminders and a mobile app for field officers to reduce paperwork and speed inspections. “These enhancements will allow us to track compliance in real time, flag delinquent accounts automatically, and link directly with collection teams for faster updates,” she said.

Senators pressed DLCA officials about enforcement practice and outcomes. Hodge reported that the consumer protection unit inspected 103 stores in FY2025 and issued 56 citations; Deputy Commissioner Myrna George and Director of Enforcement Wilbur Francis described the most common violations as unmarked prices, expired goods and scale/calibration failures. “Those who were issued citations were not in compliance,” Hodge said.

On fuel pricing, Hodge said DLCA has asked all retail fuel sellers to produce operational and pricing records (bills of lading, invoices, contracts) covering 05/01/2020 to present and that the majority have complied; noncompliant stations have been referred to the Department of Justice. General counsel Geraldine LaVall confirmed that only two of 29 Saint Thomas stations had responded to subpoenas, while most Saint Croix stations did supply documents. The DLCA is turning collected data over to an independent contractor, Analysis Group, under a contract executed on 10/17/2025 to conduct a comprehensive cost‑of‑living and fuel analysis with anticipated completion in September 2026.

Several senators raised enforcement capacity shortfalls: DLCA said field enforcement officers perform daily compliance checks but the territory faces a shortage of inspection vehicles — DLCA reported only one of five consumer‑affairs vehicles running between districts — and cited the need for additional staffing to raise inspection frequency. Hodge asked for legislative support to strengthen collections and enforcement authority; senators acknowledged both the benefit of stronger enforcement and the need for legislative guardrails to prevent misuse of expanded powers.

What happens next: The contract for the modernization platform remains with the Department of Justice for legal review and awaits the governor’s signature before work begins; the fuel and cost‑of‑living study is underway with Analysis Group and BER, and DLCA will continue to refer noncompliant fuel retailers to the Department of Justice for enforcement.