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Bill

A 4685

Requires mercantile establishments to cease collections under certain circumstances

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kwani O'Pharrow

Retailers must halt debt-collection actions when defined conditions apply, protecting consumers from retailer pressure during those circumstances.

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 4685

Summary of Bill A 4685

Overview

  • Bill Number: A 4685
  • Title: Requires mercantile establishments to cease collections under certain circumstances
  • Sponsor (Primary): Kwani O'Pharrow
  • Status: Referred to the Judiciary
  • Introduced: February 4, 2025
  • Classification: Bill

What the bill would do

  • The bill, as indicated by its title, would require mercantile establishments (retailers and similar merchants) to halt collection activities under certain circumstances.
  • Specific criteria, definitions, and the scope of “certain circumstances” are not provided in the available information. The bill would define when and how collection efforts must stop, and may outline permissible actions once those circumstances no longer apply.

Key provisions (as suggested by the title)

  • Mandate to cease collections: Merchants would be obligated to stop debt-collection efforts when the statute identifies particular conditions or events.
  • Likely governance elements (not detailed in the provided text): criteria defining “certain circumstances,” enforcement mechanisms, potential penalties for non-compliance, and any exemptions or special-case rules.
  • Implementation details (not provided): effective dates, transition periods, and responsibilities of businesses to update policies and consumer-facing communications.

Who would be affected

  • Primary actors: Mercantile establishments and their debt-collection operations.
  • Directly affected groups: Consumers or debtors interacting with retailers who may experience stopped collection actions under defined conditions.
  • Depending on definitions, the bill could apply to a broad range of retail sectors and sizes, from small merchants to large retailers.

Legislative and procedural context

  • Introduced: February 4, 2025
  • Committee referral: Judiciary (listed twice in the provided actions)
  • Related/companion measures:
    • Senate companion: S 3816
    • Related Assembly measures from prior sessions: A 5582, A 8248, A 2058, A 7457, A 851, A 1681
  • The presence of a companion bill suggests cross-chamber consideration and ongoing interest in the topic.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Could reduce aggressive or inappropriate collection practices by retailers during defined circumstances, offering clearer consumer protections.
  • Might affect the leverage and timeline for debt resolution from the retailer’s perspective.
  • The actual impact depends on the precise definitions, enforcement provisions, and any carve-outs or exemptions established in the final text.
  • Important to monitor for amendments, especially from the Judiciary committee and the companion Senate bill (S 3816).

Next steps for readers

  • Track the bill’s progress through the Judiciary committee for potential amendments.
  • Compare with the Senate companion (S 3816) to understand harmonized language and cross-chamber differences.
  • Review the final text when available to assess the exact criteria, enforcement, and effective dates.

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

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