ASSEMBLY CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 1982

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 4, 2026

      The Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 1982.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill requires a business entity that uses text-based chat to communicate with consumers to offer an option to obtain a transcription of the chat at the conclusion of the interaction.

      Under the bill, the business entity is required to provide clear and conspicuous notice informing consumers of the option to obtain a transcript of the chat.

      As amended, violators of the bill’s provisions are subject to a civil penalty of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for a subsequent offense per day of the violation.  The civil penalty is to be collected in a summary proceeding before a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to the "Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999," P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

      The bill as amended provides that the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety may, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2026-2027 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      1) remove the bill’s provisions from the consumer fraud act;

      2) subject violators of the bill’s provisions to a civil penalty of $500 for a first offense on the first day and $1,000 for a second and subsequent offense per day of the violation; and

      3) authorize the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety to adopt rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of the bill.