Bill > A1210

Introduced Session

This bill provides that it is an unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act, P.L.1960, c.39 (C.56:8-1 et seq.), for a person to engage in canvassing or solicitation of real estate owners, with regard to selling or buying real estate, unless the person is a real estate broker, broker-salesperson, salesperson, or referral agent licensed in this State pursuant to R.S.45:15-1 et seq. As used in the bill, "canvassing" means distributing printed material or any other thing from house to house, or calling in person upon the occupants of any house seeking to distribute printed material, or in any other way, including by telephone or by means of digital communication, advertising any services or offering anything of value with regard to buying, offering to buy, selling, or offering to sell real estate of any kind or description; and "solicitation" means any attempt to buy, offer to buy, sell, or offer to sell real estate of any kind or description by sample or otherwise house to house, by telephone or by means of digital communication, or offer to render services from house to house, by telephone, or by means of digital communication, with or without accepting payment or partial payment for the same. The bill also provides that the provisions of the bill will not be construed to supersede or preempt any ordinance, resolution, or regulation of a unit of local government that prohibits or limits canvassing and solicitation of any nature. An unlawful practice under the consumer fraud act is 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, a violation can 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.

Committee Categories

Rob Clifton (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee (on 01/11/2022)

Official Document