Relates to requiring businesses to provide to the division of consumer protection a telephone number at which such business may be contacted for the submission of consumers complaints

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Monique Chandler-Waterman

Requires every business to give the Division of Consumer Protection a direct phone number for submitting consumer complaints, centralizing how complaints reach state oversight.

REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION

Overview

Bill Number: A 7241

Title / Purpose: Relates to requiring businesses to provide to the Division of Consumer Protection a telephone number at which such business may be contacted for the submission of consumers’ complaints.

Sponsor: Monique Chandler-Waterman (primary)

Introduced: March 21, 2025

Status: Referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection

What the Bill Would Do

The core requirement is that every business provide to the Division of Consumer Protection a telephone number that can be used for the submission of consumer complaints. In other words, businesses would supply a direct contact line to facilitate consumer complaints being filed with the state Division of Consumer Protection.

Key Provisions (as indicated by the available text)

Businesses would be obligated to furnish the Division of Consumer Protection with a telephone number through which consumer complaints can be submitted.

The summary provided does not include specifics on:

How the number must be maintained (e.g., updates, accuracy, hours of operation)
Any posting or disclosure requirements to consumers (e.g., public listing)
Enforcement mechanisms or penalties for noncompliance
Effective date or phase-in period

The bill text would specify these details; the current available information only confirms the mandatory submission of a contact number to the state division.

Affected Parties

Businesses: All businesses operating under the jurisdiction of the bill (subject to the state’s consumer protection framework) would need to provide the designated telephone contact to the Division of Consumer Protection.

Division of Consumer Protection: Responsible for receiving and potentially utilizing the provided telephone contact information to process consumer complaints.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Status & Process: Referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection on March 21, 2025. No further action, floor vote, or enactment date is provided in the current information.

Related Activity: The bill lists related prior-session bills (A 6821, A 417, A 19, A 251, A 6468), indicating ongoing interest in strengthening consumer complaint mechanisms.

Potential Impact and Considerations

Consumer Access: Could streamline and centralize how consumers submit complaints, potentially improving responsiveness and accountability.

Business Compliance: May introduce an administrative obligation to provide and maintain a valid contact number with the state; specifics on enforcement and remedies would be in the final bill text.

State Oversight: Enhances the Division of Consumer Protection’s ability to receive and route complaints via a defined business contact point.

For readers wishing to understand current status or to anticipate changes, monitor subsequent committee actions and the full text of A 7241 as it progresses through the legislative process.

Bill