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A 1371

Prohibits consumer contract provisions waiving the consumer's right to make statements concerning goods or services

2025 Regular Session Introduced by William Colton and 5 co-sponsors

Prohibits tourist helicopter tours at all state-licensed aviation facilities; EMS and government/military flights exempt; takes effect immediately; DOT to enforce.

REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
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Bill Summary · A 1371

Summary of Assembly Bill A 1371 (New Jersey)

Note: The bill title in the prompt (“Prohibits consumer contract provisions waiving the consumer's right to make statements concerning goods or services”) appears not to match the bill’s actual content. The introduced and amended text for A 1371 concerns helicopter operations in New Jersey, not consumer contract provisions. The following summary reflects the bill’s substantive provisions as introduced and referenced in its official version.

Overview

  • Bill number: A 1371
  • Official short title (introduced): An Act concerning certain helicopter operations in New Jersey and supplementing Title 6 of the Revised Statutes.
  • Primary purpose: Prohibit tourist helicopter operations at aviation facilities licensed by the State to reduce noise, safety hazards, and other quality-of-life impacts.
  • Current status: Referred to the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee (status shown as of 2025); originally introduced in the Assembly on January 9, 2024 (Committee: Tourism, Gaming and the Arts). Companion bill in the Senate: S 4427.
  • Sponsors: Primary — Jo Anne Simon; Cosponsors — Alicia Hyndman, Dana Levenberg, Deborah Glick, William Colton, Carrie Woerner.

Key Provisions

1) Definitions

  • Airport: State-licensed area for landing and takeoff of airplanes and other aircraft; may include facilities for shelter, security, and service.
  • Emergency medical transportation: Defined as in N.J. law (consistent with existing EMS definitions).
  • Helicopter / Heliport / Helistop: Standard definitions for rotary-wing aircraft and landing areas, with “helistop” defined as a landing area not necessarily used exclusively for helicopters.
  • Tourist helicopter: A helicopter operating for sightseeing tours in areas such as the Hudson River (NJ–NYC), the Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island.

2) Prohibition on Tourist Helicopters

  • The Commissioner of Transportation must prohibit all tourist helicopter operations at aviation facilities licensed by the State (including airports, heliports, and helistops).
  • Exemptions:
    • Helicopters owned or operated by federal or military authorities, or by the State government
    • Helicopters providing emergency medical transportation

3) Effective Date

  • The act takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Impact and Implications

  • Who is affected: Operators of tourist helicopter services at state-licensed aviation facilities would be prohibited from operating in such facilities; EMS and government/military helicopter operations are exempt.
  • State agencies: Requires the DOT Commissioner to enforce the prohibition across all licensed facilities.
  • Quality of life and safety: Aims to reduce noise, safety hazards, and other negative impacts associated with sightseeing helicopter tours.
  • Tourism considerations: Potential impact on tourism-related helicopter operators and associated economic activity; exemptions could limit disruption to essential operations (EMS) and government use.

Procedural and Timeline Highlights

  • Introduced: January 9, 2024 (Assembly)
  • Initial committee: Tourism, Gaming and the Arts
  • Later action: Referred to Consumer Affairs and Protection (January 9, 2025)
  • Related legislation: Companion Senate bill S 4427; additional related bills in prior sessions (A 6544, A 2237, A 1704, S 6375)

Summary

A 1371 seeks to ban tourist helicopter tours from all state-licensed aviation facilities in New Jersey, with clear exemptions for emergency services and government aircraft, effective immediately upon enactment. The bill reflects concern about noise and safety impacts while limiting disruption to essential or authorized government-related flights.

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

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