Tracking legislation impacting New Jersey’s restaurant and hospitality industry.

Commerce

Bans unauthorized restaurant reservation arrangement by third-party reservation service.
Prohibits seller from charging credit card surcharges; establishes notice requirements for credit card minimums and cash discounts.
Allows rounding for cash transactions.
Requires restaurant to disclose mandatory gratuity to patrons.
Limits service fees charged to restaurants by third-party food takeout and delivery applications.
Imposes temporary surcharges on certain transactions to support preparations for hosting of special events.

Consumer Affairs

Establishes “Fair Price Protection Act.”
Requires issuance of raincheck for unavailable good or service advertised by digital coupon.

Environment

“Packaging and Paper Product Stewardship Act.”

Food Labeling & Nutrition

Requires retail food establishments to provide disclosures for certain caffeinated beverages.
Requires certain restaurant chains to provide sodium information for items offered for sale.
Requires children’s meals and beverages served in certain settings to meet nutritional standards.
Requires food service businesses to provide written notice of major food allergens in each menu item.

Hotel

Concerns hospitality franchise agreements.
Establishes distinction between residential tenant and other occupants of hotel or motel for purpose of determining permitted removal actions.
Requires hotels to establish telecommunications system that connects callers directly to NJ Human Trafficking Hotline; requires hotel employees to report human trafficking alerts to law enforcement.
Requires hotels, motels, rooming and boarding houses, and similar lodging businesses to check valid government-issued identification at check-in.

Labor

Requires employers to include in job posting whether posting is for existing position and sets additional job posting requirements.
Establishes “Occupational Heat-Related Illness and Injury Prevention Program” and occupational heat stress standard in DOLWD.

Tax Credits

“Saving Our Diners and Preserving Our Past (SODA POP) Act;” provides sales and use tax exemption and corporation business and gross income tax credits for historic diners and historic restaurants included in online registry.

Policy Guides & Resources

“Saving Our Diners and Preserving Our Past (SODA POP) Act” — overview, impact, and policy considerations.
Guidance on single-use utensil regulations, compliance requirements, and operational impacts for restaurants.