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Assembly requires arbitration clauses in consumer contracts to be printed in 16-point type
Summary
The Assembly passed legislation requiring mandatory-arbitration clauses in consumer contracts to be printed in at least 16-point font, aiming to make such clauses more visible to consumers. Sponsors framed it as a consumer-protection step; critics noted overlap with existing insurance-law font minimums and broader federal arbitration policy.
The Assembly approved a measure requiring that mandatory-arbitration clauses in consumer contracts be printed in at least 16-point font to make them more visible to consumers.
Sponsor Mister Dinowitz said the bill is intended to help consumers spot arbitration clauses that might otherwise be buried in agreements and reduce surprise waivers of courtroom access. "This bill is about the font," he told the chamber, arguing that larger type will make a legally consequential clause harder to miss.
Critics noted that some state laws already specify minimum font sizes and said the measure singles out arbitration clauses rather than applying a broader consumer-readability standard. Members discussed enforcement and whether the change would conflict with current insurance-law font requirements; the sponsor said the legislative intent is to require 16-point type for arbitration clauses even where other statutes set a lower minimum. The bill passed on a recorded vote.
