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Bill

Bill

S 4107

Prohibits seller providing service or selling goods from charging surcharge to customer using debit card or gift card.*

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Jim Beach and 2 co-sponsors

Prohibits retailers in New Jersey from charging any surcharge specifically because a customer pays with a debit card.

Reported from Senate Committee, 2nd Reading
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4107

Summary of New Jersey Bill S.4107 (Session 222)

Overall purpose

S.4107 seeks to prohibit retailers and service providers from imposing a surcharge on customers who pay with a debit card. The bill aims to protect consumers from additional fees when choosing debit payment methods and to align with protections already in some jurisdictions that restrict or ban card payment surcharges.

Key provisions and changes

  • Prohibition on debit card surcharges: The bill would make it unlawful for a seller or service provider to charge a surcharge to a customer who pays with a debit card. A surcharge is an added amount separate from the posted price of the goods or services, assessed specifically because the payment method is debit.

  • Scope of prohibition: Applies to sellers and service providers operating in New Jersey and engaging in commerce with customers in the state. It targets practices that impose an extra fee solely due to the use of a debit card for payment.

  • Enforcement and penalties: The bill would establish penalties for non-compliance. (Exact penalty amounts and enforcement mechanisms would typically be specified in the text; the summary notes that penalties would be part of the bill, but the precise figures would be in the bill’s language.)

  • Preemption and consistency: The measure would harmonize payment practices within New Jersey, potentially aligning with similar consumer protection laws related to credit and debit card transactions.

Who would be affected

  • Retailers and service providers that accept debit card payments in New Jersey would be prevented from adding any debit-specific surcharge.
  • Consumers paying with debit cards would be protected from extra charges imposed solely due to the payment method.
  • Businesses with mixed payment options (cash, debit, credit, mobile wallets) would need to ensure pricing is not inflated for debit payments beyond the posted price for goods/services.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced in Senate: May 4, 2026.
  • Referral: Referred to the Senate Commerce Committee for review and possible amendment.
  • Next steps: If advanced, the bill would proceed through committee hearings, potential amendments, and then floor votes in the Senate and, if passed, movement to the Assembly and ultimately to the governor for signature.

Sponsorship

  • Co-sponsor: Senator Teresa Ruiz.

Additional notes

  • The summary reflects the bill’s stated objective to bar debit card surcharges. The exact definitions (e.g., what constitutes a surcharge vs. permissible payment-related pricing adjustments), exceptions (if any, such as for specific merchant categories or payment processing agreements), and concrete penalties would be detailed in the bill text. For precise language, consult the official bill document and any amendments adopted during committee consideration.

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

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