KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to New Jersey

S3817 • 2026

Requires business using text-based chat to offer transcription of chat to consumer.

Requires business using text-based chat to offer transcription of chat to consumer.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
McKnight, Angela V.
Last action
2026-03-05
Official status
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Requires business using text-based chat to offer transcription of chat to consumer.

Requires business using text-based chat to offer transcription of chat to consumer.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires business using text-based chat to offer transcription of chat to consumer.
  • Topic: Commerce Fiscal note: This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-05 New Jersey Legislature

    Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Commerce Committee

Official Summary Text

Requires business using text-based chat to offer transcription of chat to consumer.
Topic:
Commerce
Fiscal note:
This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
S3817

SENATE, No. 3817

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 5, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires business using text-based chat to offer
transcription of chat to consumer.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning text-based chat support and supplementing P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1
et seq.).�

����
Be It Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New
Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� As used in this
section:

���� �Business
entity� means any natural or legal person, business
corporation, professional services corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, limited partnership, business trust, association, or any other
legal commercial entity organized under the laws of this State or any other
state or foreign jurisdiction.�

���� �Chat� means any tool used by
a business entity to provide real-time, text-based communication with a
consumer.�

���� �Transcript� means a typed or
printed verbatim record of a chat.

���� b.��� A business entity that
uses chat to communicate with a consumer shall provide the consumer with an
option to receive a transcript of the chat at the conclusion of the
interaction.� The business entity shall provide clear and conspicuous notice to
the consumer at the outset of any interaction, informing the consumer of the
option to receive a transcript of the chat.

���� c.���� A violation of the
provisions of this section shall be an unlawful practice and a violation of
P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.).�

���� 2.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.�

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires a business
entity that uses text-based chat to communicate with consumers to offer an
option to obtain a transcription of the chat at the conclusion of the
interaction.�

���� Under the bill, the business
entity is required to provide clear and conspicuous notice informing consumers
of the option to obtain a transcript of the chat.�

���� A
violation of the bill�s provisions is an unlawful practice under the consumer
fraud act, punishable by a monetary penalty of not more than $10,000 for a
first offense and not more than $20,000 for any subsequent offense. In
addition, violations may result in cease and desist orders issued by the
Attorney General, the assessment of punitive damages, and the awarding of
treble damages and costs to the injured party.