A 1959 — Prohibits telecommunications, utility or cable television companies from charging certain customers prior to actual billing due date.

A1959 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

Assemblyman ScharfenbergerScharfenberger, 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      IntroducedAs Pendingreported Technicalby Reviewthe byAssembly LegislativeConsumer Counsel.Affairs Committee on February 12, 2026, with amendments.

            2.   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 expressly1[expressly]1 agrees in1[in writingwriting]1 to be charged for service on an earlier date.

    STATEMENT         This bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prohibit a telecommunications company, electric public utility, gas public utility or cable television company from charging a credit card customer or direct debit customer for service prior to the actual billing due date that would apply if the customer were to pay by cash, money order or personal check, unless:

1) the customer expressly agrees in writing to be charged for service on an earlier date;

or 2) the customer makes such a request to the company or utility by telephone or by other means approved by the BPU.