NJ Assembly advances credit card surcharge bill

The legislative body’s financial institution and insurance committee approved the measure Thursday, and it now goes to the Assembly Speaker.

The bill sponsored by Assembly Democrats is in response to recent national changes in credit card regulations that allow merchants to impose a surcharge, typically from 1.5 percent to 3 percent, on customers who use credit cards. The surcharge doesn’t apply to debit cards.

Bill sponsors say New York has banned the new fees but Pennsylvania hasn’t.

The Assembly measure was changed in committee to allow gas stations in New Jersey to continue charging different prices for cash and credit purchases.