New Jersey lawmakers are advancing legislation that would require annual inspections of airline baggage scales and public disclosure of the results following findings of inaccurate readings at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee approved legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese, (D-Bergen and Passaic), that would require the state Office of Weights and Measures to inspect airport baggage scales at least once a year.

The bill would also require inspection results, including the number of scales that fail, to be made publicly available within 30 days.

The legislation follows recent news reports that found baggage scales at Newark Liberty International Airport produced inaccurate readings approximately 27% of the time.

During an October 2023 inspection, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs identified inaccuracies in 105 of the 384 baggage scales examined. Of those, 86 were found to be sufficiently inaccurate to be condemned and removed from service.

One flunked Newark scale, repaired and then reinspected, remained off by as much as 35 pounds.

Newark Liberty had not undergone another examination since that inspection, according to the reports.

New York City, meanwhile, conducts annual inspections of baggage scales at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.

Calabrese said the legislation would help protect travelers from unexpected baggage fees resulting from inaccurate equipment.

“When travelers check their bags at the airport, they should be able to trust that the scales are accurate,” Calabrese said. “No one should face unnecessary fees because the equipment being used is giving an incorrect reading.”

He described the proposed inspections and public reporting requirements as a commonsense measure to improve accountability and protect consumers.

The bill would establish a regular inspection schedule for airport baggage scales in New Jersey and make the findings accessible to the public.