ASSEMBLY CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 3256

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 12, 2026

      The Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 3256.

      As amended and reported by the committee, this bill requires a restaurant to disclose a mandatory gratuity charge to a patron on the menu, at the entrance of the restaurant, on the patron’s bill, and if the restaurant operates a website, on the restaurant’s website.  The disclosure is required to be in a prominent manner.  Violators of the bill’s provisions are subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 for first offense, $2,500 for a second offense, and $5,000 for a third or subsequent offense.  For violations of a continuing nature, each day during which a violation occurs constitutes an additional, separate, and distinct offense.  A penalty imposed pursuant to the bill’s provisions is to be collected in a civil action under the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

      This bill was prefiled 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 change the effective date to six months after enactment.