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Bill

WS

Bill

A 5984

Bans unauthorized restaurant reservation arrangement by third-party reservation service.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Will Sampson

New Jersey bill prohibits third-party reservation services from booking restaurant tables without explicit restaurant authorization, protecting restaurants' control over reservations and customer data.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee
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Bill Summary · A 5984

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 5984 prohibits third-party reservation services from booking restaurant tables without explicit authorization from the restaurant. The bill aims to prevent unauthorized intermediaries from controlling restaurant reservations and potentially charging customers fees for services restaurants did not request.

Why is this important

Restaurants have faced issues with third-party platforms booking reservations without permission, sometimes blocking direct customer access or creating confusion about availability. This bill protects restaurants' ability to manage their own reservations and customer relationships while preventing hidden fees that consumers may not realize they're paying.

Potential points of contention

  • Business model impact: Third-party reservation platforms (like OpenTable, Resy) may argue the bill restricts their legitimate business operations and ability to aggregate reservation data
  • Consumer access: Restrictions could limit convenient booking options for customers who rely on aggregator platforms to find and reserve restaurants
  • Enforcement challenges: Determining what constitutes "unauthorized" arrangements versus legitimate partnership agreements may create ambiguity in implementation
  • Small business burden: Requiring explicit authorization could increase administrative work for restaurants to manage multiple platform relationships

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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