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A1959 1R
[First Reprint]
ASSEMBLY, No. 1959
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
Assemblyman WILLIAM B. SAMPSON, IV
District 31 (Hudson)
Assemblyman KEVIN P. EGAN
District 17 (Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Scharfenberger, Assemblywomen Murphy, Brennan,
Carter, Speight, Assemblyman Bhalla and Assemblywoman Haider
SYNOPSIS
���� Prohibits telecommunications, utility or cable
television companies from charging certain customers prior to actual billing
due date.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As reported by the Assembly Consumer Affairs
Committee on February 12, 2026, with amendments.
��
An Act
concerning certain customer billing practices and supplementing Title 48 of the
Revised Statutes.
����
Be It Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� As used in P.L.��� ,
c.��� (C.����� ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill):
���� "Board" means the
Board of Public Utilities or any successor agency.
���� "Cable television
company" or "CATV company" means a company as that term is
defined in section 3 of P.L.1972, c.186 (C.48:5A-3), that provides cable
television service to the public within this State.
���� "Credit card
customer" means a customer who agrees to allow a telecommunications
company, electric public utility, gas public utility or cable television
company to automatically bill the customer's credit card for service received
during each billing cycle.
���� "Direct debit
customer" means a customer who agrees to allow a telecommunications
company, electric public utility, gas public utility or cable television
company to automatically deduct payments from the customer's bank account for
service received during each billing cycle.
���� "Electric public
utility" means a public utility as that term is defined in R.S.48:2-13,
that transmits and distributes electricity to end users within this State.
���� "Gas public utility"
means a public utility, as that term is defined in R.S.48:2-13, that
distributes natural gas to end users within this State.
���� "Telecommunications
company" means a company authorized by the board to provide
telecommunications services to the public in this State including, but not
limited to, a carrier authorized by the board to provide local
telecommunications services or long-distance telecommunications services or
both.
���� "Telecommunications
service" means any telecommunications service which is subject to
regulation by the board pursuant to Title 48 of the Revised Statutes.
�����
2.�� a.�
Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, regulation or order to
the contrary, the board shall prohibit any telecommunications company, electric
public utility, gas public utility or cable television company from charging a
credit card customer or direct debit customer for telecommunications service,
gas service, electric service or cable television service, as the case may be,
prior to the actual billing due date for service within each billing cycle that
would apply if the customer elected to pay for service by cash, money order or
personal check, unless the customer
1
[
expressly
]
1
agrees
1
[
in writing
]
1
to be charged for service on an earlier date.
���� b.��� Notwithstanding the
provisions of subsection a. of this section to the contrary, the board shall
allow a telecommunications company, electric public utility, gas public utility
or cable television company to charge a credit card customer or direct debit customer
for telecommunications service, gas service, electric service or cable
television service, as the case may be, prior to the actual billing due date
for service within a billing cycle if the customer requests a company or
utility to do so by making such request by telephonic communication to the
company or utility or by any other means that the board approves.
���� 3.��� The board may, pursuant
to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et
seq.) adopt such rules and regulations, as shall be necessary to implement the
provisions of this act.
���� 4.��� This act shall take
effect 90 days after enactment but the board may take administrative actions in
advance to effectuate the purposes of this act.