Bill > S2326

This bill, known as the Payment Choice Act of 2025, aims to ensure that cash remains a viable payment method at brick-and-mortar businesses across the United States. The legislation requires retail businesses that accept in-person payments to accept cash for transactions up to $500 and prohibits them from charging higher prices to customers paying with cash. Businesses are given some flexibility, such as being able to temporarily decline cash payments during system failures or when they cannot make change. For the first five years after enactment, businesses will not be required to accept $50 bills or larger denominations. The bill provides a mechanism for customers to file civil actions against businesses that violate these requirements, with potential penalties including actual damages (or $250 in liquidated damages), civil penalties of up to $500 for a first offense and $1,500 for subsequent offenses, and the possibility of court-appointed attorneys for individuals pursuing such actions. Importantly, the legislation does not preempt state or local laws that provide greater consumer protections and requires federal agencies to submit annual reports on the geographic distribution of ATMs owned by federally insured financial institutions. The bill's underlying purpose is to protect consumer choice and ensure access to cash as a payment method in an increasingly digital payment landscape.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2326/all-info