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A 1845

Requires telemarketers to add a customer's telephone number to all do-not-call lists maintained by such telemarketer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Eachus

Requires warning label on personal audio players: 115 dB may cause permanent hearing damage after 15 minutes; penalties up to $5,000 per offense for manufacturers/importers.

REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
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Bill Summary · A 1845

Summary of New Jersey Assembly Bill A 1845 (Introduced Version)

Note on scope: The bill listing presents a title about telemarketers and do-not-call lists, but the introduced version content published with A 1845 concerns warnings on personal audio players. The following summary reflects the introduced version text (not the telemarketing-related description).

Overview

  • Bill: A 1845
  • Introduced: January 9, 2024
  • Sponsor: Christopher Eachus (primary)
  • Current status: Referred to Consumer Affairs and Protection (Assembly). Action log also shows 2025 referrals to Consumer Affairs and Protection.
  • What it does ( Introduced Version): Establishes a labeling requirement for personal audio players to warn customers about potential hearing damage from high-volume use.

Purpose and Intent

  • To address potential hearing damage from high-volume listening on portable personal audio players (e.g., MP3 players, iPods).
  • Rationale cites OSHA guidance indicating risk of significant hearing loss from exposures at 115 decibels within short time frames (e.g., 15 minutes).

Key Provisions

  1. Definitions

    • Manufacturer: A person who manufactures or imports a personal audio player for distribution in New Jersey.
    • Personal audio player: A personal, electronic device that allows the user to listen to audio while mobile.

  2. Warning Label Requirement

    • No manufacturer may distribute a personal audio player in New Jersey unless a warning label is affixed to the device.
    • Required label:
      • “WARNING: This product may cause hearing damage. A volume level of 115 decibels may cause permanent hearing damage after 15 minutes of exposure.”

  3. Penalties

    • Civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each offense.
    • Penalties may be collected by the New Jersey Attorney General with costs in a summary proceeding under the Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.).

  4. Effective Date

    • The act would take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment.

  5. Legislative Justification (Statement)

    • The bill addresses the risk of hearing damage from high-volume portable audio devices and establishes a prominent warning to inform consumers.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Primary: Manufacturers and importers of personal audio players distributed in New Jersey.
  • Indirectly: Retailers and distributors who bring the product into the state market, since they would be tied to the manufacturer’s compliance as part of distribution.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Introduction date: January 9, 2024.
  • Committee referrals: Initially to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee; later entries show referral to Consumer Affairs and Protection.
  • No stated transition or sunset provisions; the key date is the seven-month post-enactment effective date (once enacted).

Related Bills

  • Companion/Same-family references include S 6461 and companion arrangements listed (S 6461 appears as a companion in related-bill notes).
  • Prior-session references: S 9245 (and A 9554) suggest related or previous iterations.

Potential Impact

  • Public health/consumer safety: Increases awareness of hearing risks from high-volume use and provides a standardized warning on devices.
  • Regulatory/compliance costs: Manufacturers/importers would incur labeling requirements and possible added packaging/marketing costs.
  • Enforcement: Civil penalties provide a mechanism to deter non-compliance; enforcement would be via the Attorney General in a summary proceeding.
  • Market effects: Could influence consumer choice and prompt further safety discussions about device volume controls and default settings.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with the telemarketing-DO-NOT-CALL description in the bill listing to highlight the discrepancy and clarify how a reader should interpret the document.

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

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