"Free Means Free Act"; prohibits misleading advertising of free products.

The "Free Means Free Act" (A2477) prohibits businesses in New Jersey from advertising products as "free" if they later charge fees that make them non-free, such as cancellation, return, or restocking charges. It requires businesses to clearly disclose the "ultimate cost" at the point of sale - defined as the total amount a customer pays including all fees (like activation, shipping, or cancellation charges) and the product's retail value. This applies to products sold with contracted services (e.g., phones bundled with phone plans) and mandates specific disclosures about fees and subsidies. Violations can result in fines up to $20,000 per offense.