Governor Sherrill and Attorney General Davenport announced coordinated executive actions to reduce and eliminate junk fees in New Jersey. The initiative includes an Executive Order directing state agencies to review industries for junk fees and an Enforcement Statement from the Division of Consumer Affairs explaining how junk fee practices may violate the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.
The initiative includes an Executive Order requiring state agencies to report on recommendations to reduce or eliminate junk fees, and an Enforcement Statement putting businesses on notice about potential violations of the Consumer Fraud Act. Consumers are encouraged to report junk fees through new educational materials and a dedicated website.
In-house legal teams should review vendor and customer agreements for clauses related to fee disclosure, pricing transparency, and add-on charges. Specifically, examine contracts with service providers, landlords, and financial institutions for provisions that allow hidden or mandatory fees not clearly disclosed in advertised prices. Review terms of service and checkout processes for dark patterns or fine print that obscure fee structures. Ensure compliance with the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act by requiring clear, upfront disclosure of all mandatory fees in vendor agreements and customer-facing materials.
Entity
State of New Jersey
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://www.njoag.gov/governor-sherrill-and-attorney-general-davenport-launch-initiative-to-crack-down-on-junk-fees-in-new-jersey/
EO 19
https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/057sherrill/pdf/EO-19.pdf
Junk Fees Enforcement Statement
https://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Junk-Fees-Enforcement-Statement.pdf
New Jersey Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://www.njoag.gov/about/divisions-and-offices/division-of-consumer-affairs/
"Governor Mikie Sherrill and Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced coordinated executive actions aimed at reducing and eliminating junk fees in New Jersey"
"the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act"
"Bait-and-switch pricing that excludes mandatory fees from the advertised price but then tacks them on later in the purchasing process"
"Hiding costs in fine print or using websites and apps deceptively designed to make them difficult to spot"
"https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/057sherrill/pdf/EO-19.pdf"
"https://www.njoag.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Junk-Fees-Enforcement-Statement.pdf"
$18.0M
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport joined a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general in announcing a settlement with the bankruptcy trustee for 23andMe, resolving allegations from a 2023 data breach that compromised genetic data of 6.9 million people worldwide, including nearly 150,000 in New Jersey. The settlement provides $18 million to states from available bankruptcy funds, plus enhanced data security and consumer deletion rights for the successor entity, 23andMe Research Institute.
$45.0M
Block, Inc. agreed to a $45 million multistate settlement with 46 states for allegedly misleading consumers about the safety of Cash App, failing to protect users from fraud, and not providing promised fraud protection. The settlement requires Block to improve customer support, stop misleading claims, and educate consumers about fraud.
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The New Jersey Bureau of Securities announced its 2026 annual investment adviser examination, with a particular focus on firms' use of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity protocols. The examination requires nearly 800 registered investment adviser firms to answer questions about AI use in portfolio management, data protection policies, and third-party vendor due diligence. Failure to comply may result in administrative action.
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