Bans unauthorized restaurant reservation arrangement by third-party reservation service.
Summary
Assembly Bill 3318 would prohibit third-party restaurant reservation services from advertising, listing, promoting, or selling reservations for a food service establishment unless the service has a written agreement with that establishment. The bill defines a third-party reservation service broadly to cover websites, mobile apps, and other internet-based platforms that arrange on-premises dining reservations for restaurants they do not own. It is aimed at unauthorized reservation marketplaces and similar platforms that place restaurant reservations online without the restaurant’s permission.
The bill also creates enforcement mechanisms and remedies. A violator would be subject to a civil penalty of up to $500 per violation, with violations accruing daily for each affected restaurant. In addition, restaurants or persons charged fees in connection with an unauthorized reservation may sue in Superior Court for injunctive relief, damages, attorney’s fees, and other appropriate remedies. The measure takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Impact
The bill supplements New Jersey’s consumer fraud and related statutes by adding a new legal restriction on reservation resale and distribution practices in the restaurant industry. It gives food service establishments a direct cause of action against unauthorized reservation platforms and limits those platforms’ ability to operate in the state unless they have express written authorization. The law would affect online reservation marketplaces, restaurant booking apps, and any other third-party service that lists or sells dining reservations without a contractual relationship with the restaurant.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong, unanimous support for the bill. It passed the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee 4-0 and later cleared both houses on March 23, 2026, with unanimous or voice-vote approval and no recorded opposition. The lack of dissent suggests broad agreement that restaurants should control whether their reservations are distributed by third-party platforms.
Contention
There is little evidence of formal contention in the provided record, but the bill’s main policy issue is the balance between protecting restaurants from unauthorized reservation sales and limiting the business model of third-party booking services. Supporters appear to favor giving restaurants control over their inventory and preventing fees or unfilled reservations caused by unauthorized listings. Any opposition would likely come from reservation platforms or intermediaries that rely on broad online distribution of restaurant reservations, though no recorded opposition appears in the votes provided.