This bill mandates that businesses disclose the usual and customary price of merchandise when advertising offers such as Buy One, Get One Free or Two-For-One deals. Currently, there is no requirement for businesses to provide this information in such advertisements, which can lead to misleading pricing practices. The intent of the bill is to prevent businesses from artificially inflating the sale price of items included in these promotional offers, thereby protecting consumers from deceptive marketing tactics.

Violations of this bill would be classified as unlawful practices under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, which carries penalties of up to $10,000 for first offenses and up to $20,000 for subsequent offenses. Additionally, the Attorney General would have the authority to issue cease and desist orders, and violators could face punitive damages, as well as the potential for treble damages and costs awarded to affected consumers. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.