A 1982 New Jersey General Assembly · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Requires business using text-based chat to offer transcription of chat to consumer.

This New Jersey bill requires businesses using real-time text chat (like customer support) to offer consumers a verbatim transcript of the conversation at the end of the interaction. Businesses must clearly inform customers upfront about this option. Violations are illegal under consumer fraud law, with penalties up to $20,000 per offense and potential fines or court-ordered remedies. The law applies to all businesses operating in New Jersey that use chat communication with consumers.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jun 4, 2026

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What changed between versions

Introduced → Reprint · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee (reported June 4, 2026) to replace the original enforcement mechanism with a specific civil penalty structure and add rulemaking authority. Instead of treating violations as unlawful practices under the Consumer Fraud Act (which carried penalties up to $10,000/$20,000 plus punitive and treble damages), violations now carry a flat $500 first-offense penalty and $1,000 per day for subsequent offenses, collected through summary proceedings. A new subsection also grants the Director of Consumer Affairs authority to adopt implementing regulations.

ENFORCEMENT

The penalty for violations was changed from being an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act (with penalties up to $10,000 first offense and $20,000 subsequent, plus cease and desist orders, punitive damages, and treble damages) to a specific civil penalty of $500 for a first offense on the first day of violation and $1,000 per day for second or subsequent offenses.

The enforcement mechanism was changed from the broader Consumer Fraud Act framework (Attorney General actions) to collection by the director in a summary proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999 (P.L.1999, c.274).

A new subsection (d) was added granting the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety authority to adopt rules and regulations under the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the section.

TECHNICAL

The explanatory statement section describing the bill's provisions and penalties was removed from the reprint version.

Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 4, 2026

Committee

Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee

lower

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee

lower

2 primary · 1 co-sponsor