SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE

                                      STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4499

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MAY 22, 2025

      The Senate Commerce Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 4499.

As amended, this bill requires defendants, including insurance companies named as defendants, to be properly identified in a cause of action.

      Under the bill, defendants, including insurance companies named as a defendant, will be required to be properly identified throughout litigation in actions for the recovery of damages.  During litigation or trial under the bill, an insurance company named as a defendant will be properly referred to by the company’s legal name and not by an assumed or fictitious name of the company.  Triers of fact will also be informed at trial of the legal name of the company. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1)  update the title of the bill;

      (2)  remove a provision stating that insurance companies will be the sole named defendant in actions for the recovery of losses sustained as a result of incidents or accidents involving covered persons;

      (3)  state that, in actions for the recovery of damages, defendants will be required to be properly identified through the litigation, including insurance companies named as defendants;

      (4)  remove the provision that the bill will apply to all lines of insurance in the State, excluding annuities;

      (5)  update the effective date to apply to all causes of action; and

      (6)  update the synopsis.