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

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Clinton Calabrese and 2 co-sponsors

Sellers in New Jersey would be prohibited from charging any surcharge specifically for debit card payments.

Reported out of Asm. Comm. with Amendments, and Referred to Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee

Purpose and intent

The bill aims to prevent sellers who provide goods or services from imposing a surcharge on customers who choose to pay with a debit card. In effect, it seeks to ensure that customers paying with debit cards are not assessed additional fees by the seller, aligning with consumer protection goals and promoting price transparency and nondiscrimination in payment methods.

Key provisions (proposed)

Prohibition on debit card surcharges: Sellers that provide goods or services would be barred from charging a surcharge specifically for transactions conducted with a debit card.

Scope: Applies to sellers offering services or goods to customers within New Jersey. The text implies a broad application to service providers, retail, or other sellers that accept debit card payments.

Relationship to other payment methods: The bill would effectively make debit card payments and other payment methods equivalent in terms of the basic purchase price, by eliminating additional debit-specific charges.

Enforcement and penalties: The summary available does not specify enforcement mechanisms or penalties; typical implementations in similar bills include civil penalties, attorney general enforcement, or private rights of action. The bill would likely define violators and remedies in its full text.

Who is affected

Consumers: Individuals who pay with debit cards would be protected from surcharges at the point of sale.

Sellers/proVIDERS: Businesses that provide goods or services and accept debit card payments would need to adjust their pricing practices to avoid applying any debit-specific surcharges.

Payment processors and financial institutions: Indirectly affected insofar as merchant practices must comply with the prohibition.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Introduction: The bill was introduced on May 18, 2026.

Referral: Referred to the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee, indicating it will be reviewed for consumer impact, feasibility, and any regulatory considerations.

Next steps: Committee hearings, potential amendments, and eventual floor votes in the Assembly. If advanced, the bill would move to the Senate (for New Jersey) and then to the governor for signature or veto, depending on legislative progress.

Practical implications and considerations

Consumer pricing: Households could see more uniform pricing across payment methods, reducing optional debit surcharges.

Administrative burden: Merchants would need to ensure compliance, potentially updating point-of-sale systems to remove any debit-specific surcharge logic and training staff.

Market impact: Could influence competitive dynamics among merchants by removing a debit-based price differentiator.

Exceptions and nuances: The full text would clarify any exceptions (e.g., surcharges for other payment types, caps, or limits) and whether debit cards used under certain programs (e.g., debit with enhanced network features) are treated differently.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to highlight potential compliance steps for businesses or compare to similar surcharges prohibition laws in other states.

Bill