New Jersey Assemblywoman Mitchelle Drulis introduced Assembly Bill 5506 on September 17. The bill would prohibit youth sports organizations from making participation conditional on booking designated lodging, transportation or travel services, according to NJ.com.
A proposed ban, not a disclosure rule
The proposal would cover youth-serving organizations, including teams, leagues and athletic associations serving participants under 18. It would make requiring a designated travel agent, lodging provider or transportation provider as a condition of participation an unlawful practice under New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act, according to BillTrack50. The proposal sets a $10,000 fine for a first offense and up to $20,000 for subsequent offenses; it also provides for possible cease-and-desist orders and damages.
That approach is distinct from federal lodging-price disclosure requirements. Hotel Dive reports that the FTC rule requires businesses to disclose the total price, including mandatory fees, but does not prohibit fees or pricing strategies. A disclosure rule addresses what consumers are told about a price; A5506 would address whether a sports organization could require families to use a particular lodging or travel provider.
Cost concerns meet unequal access
NJ.com reported that required hotel bookings can add an estimated $100 to $500 or more to a New Jersey family’s tournament weekend. The bill targets that lodging condition specifically; it would not, by itself, eliminate other expenses associated with travel sports.
The issue sits within a much broader participation landscape. The Aspen Institute’s Project Play estimates that 55.4% of U.S. children ages 6–17 played on a sports team or took sports lessons in 2023. Its 2024 State of Play Kansas City report also found that surveyed children from low-income households were three times less likely to play on traveling teams than children from high-income homes. Those findings describe participation and income differences; they do not show that stay-to-play policies caused them. Project Play participation data and its challenges findings provide the context.
The proposal’s limits and related efforts
The bill follows a 2024 antitrust settlement involving Varsity Brands and Bain Capital. NJ.com reported that the $82.5 million settlement restricted mandatory lodging at a portion of Varsity’s cheer competitions. That agreement concerned a specific company and competition setting; it is not a statewide rule for youth sports.
Drulis has also sponsored a separate proposal, Assembly Bill 4746, that would create a New Jersey gross-income-tax credit of up to $2,000 per dependent for qualifying youth sports expenses, including travel, lodging, registration and equipment. The New Jersey Legislature’s bill document identifies the proposed credit; it is a separate measure from A5506.
A5506 remains a proposal, not current law. Its committee referral is documented, but whether the committee will advance it remains unresolved.
