This bill mandates the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to collect and publish specific statistical information regarding consumer debt lawsuits, which are defined as civil actions in the Superior Court aimed at enforcing consumer credit contracts or collecting medical debts. The AOC is required to compile and report various statistics, including the number of new consumer debt lawsuits filed, the number pending for three months or more, the representation of defendants by attorneys, judgments granted, and other relevant statistics deemed appropriate by the Administrative Director of the Courts in consultation with the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs.

The statistics will be reported annually to both the Governor and the Legislature, enhancing transparency and understanding of consumer debt litigation in New Jersey. This initiative aligns with recommendations from the National Center for Access to Justice, emphasizing the need for comprehensive data to inform court personnel, lawmakers, and advocates about the challenges in consumer debt claims litigation. Currently, while the AOC provides monthly civil case statistics, they do not specifically categorize consumer debt collection cases, making this bill a significant step towards better data collection and analysis in this area.