FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 14, 2026

Contact: 

Julie Sweet

Director of Advocacy & Industry Relations

American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC)

[email protected]

(703) 935-2282

Association says the law violates the First Amendment, harms small businesses, and limits voter communication

McLEAN, VA — The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) responded to guidance issued by the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (DCA) July 10, 2026 clarifying the rollout of the state’s new data broker law, P.L.2026, c.25. DCA confirmed that the law’s registration requirements will not take effect until the spring of 2027, when the state opens its first registration period for data brokers and collectors, and that it intends to issue further guidance on the law’s restrictions on “sensitive data.”

“We thank the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs for clarifying that New Jersey’s data broker registration and other requirements will not go into effect until 2027, and that the contours of the law’s sensitive data language require clarification,” said Julie Sweet, AAPC’s Director of Advocacy & Industry Relations. “However, we have serious concerns about the law as written. The law is onerous, violates the First Amendment, and will hurt small businesses. It also will prevent millions of New Jersey voters, particularly those from communities of color, from receiving important election and constituent information and from having their voices heard. We look forward to working with the legislature and other stakeholders in the coming weeks to repeal and replace this law with one that ensures that political activity and advocacy can continue in New Jersey.”

P.L.2026, c.25, enacted June 30, 2026, requires data brokers and data collectors to register annually with DCA, with fees ranging from $5,000 to $1.5 million depending on the volume of New Jersey consumer data involved. It also bars data brokers and collectors from selling or licensing “sensitive data,” a category that includes racial or ethnic origin, and religious beliefs, among other categories. Violations of the sensitive-data prohibition carry civil penalties of up to $50,000 per record; failure to register or submit required information carries penalties of up to $2,500 per day.  AAPC believes these provisions create substantial constitutional concerns while imposing unnecessary compliance burdens on businesses that engage in lawful political and public affairs communications.

###

The American Association of Political Consultants (AAPC) is the nation’s largest bipartisan organization of political and public affairs professionals. Through advocacy, research, and member education, AAPC works to ensure that laws governing political communication and data use protect voters’ access to information while respecting constitutional free speech rights and avoiding unnecessary burdens on candidates, campaigns, advocacy organizations, and the businesses that support them.