Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAN HUTCHISON
District 4 (Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman MICHAEL VENEZIA
District 34 (Essex)
Assemblyman WILLIAM B. SAMPSON, IV
District 31 (Hudson)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Miller, Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson, Speight, McCoy, Haider, Assemblymen Bailey, Stanley and Assemblywoman Katz
SYNOPSIS
Requires restaurant to disclose mandatory gratuity to patrons.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee on December 11, 2025, with amendments.
An Act concerning mandatory gratuities at restaurants and supplementing 1[P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.)] Title 56 of the Revised Statutes1.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. 1[It shall be an unlawful practice for any person to] a. A person shall not1 charge a mandatory gratuity in a restaurant without disclosing, in a prominent manner, the gratuity on the menu, at the entrance of the restaurant, on a patron’s bill, and if applicable, on the restaurant’s website.
1b. A person who violates the provisions of this bill shall be subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 for the first offense, $2,500 for the second offense, and $5,000 for the third and each subsequent offense. Each day on which a violation occurs shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. A penalty imposed pursuant to this section shall be collected in a civil action by a summary proceeding under the “Penalty Enforcement Law of 1999,” P.L.1999, c.274 (C.2A:58-10 et seq.). The Superior Court shall have jurisdiction of proceedings for the enforcement of the penalty provided by this section.10.
2. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month next following the date of enactment.