Requires merchants to accept cash as payment for goods and services; permits the superintendent of financial services to provide exemptions based on certain criteria.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1684
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring
merchants to accept cash as payment for goods
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section
2 396-ff to read as follows:
3 § 396-ff. Cash payment non-discrimination. 1. Any retail mercantile
4 establishment as defined in article twelve-B of this chapter, in which
5 food is prepared, sold, or served subject to title eight of article
6 thirteen of the public health law, or other establishment offering goods
7 or services for sale shall accept United States currency (cash) as legal
8 tender when offered as payment. Such establishment shall not discrimi-
9 nate against a cash buyer by requiring the use of a credit or debit card
10 or electronic payment device or process in order to purchase food,
11 goods, or services. This section shall not apply to telephone, mail
12 order, electronic, online, or other transactions in which the buyer is
13 not present in the establishment's physical place of business.
14 2. The superintendent of the department of financial services may make
15 regulations to implement this section, including authorization of
16 exemptions or exclusions from this section. Exemptions or exclusions
17 under this section may be provided based on criteria including, but not
18 limited to, the nature of the establishment; the nature of the food,
19 goods, or services; the denomination of currency used; or the amount of
20 the transaction.
21 3. A violation of this section shall be punishable by a fine not to
22 exceed five hundred dollars.
23 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
24 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the superintendent of
25 the department of financial services may make regulations and take other
26 actions reasonably necessary to implement this act on that date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03672-01-5
