S 4153: Prohibits food stores and retail establishments from refusing to accept payment in cash; provides a civil penalty will be assessed for such actions.
The bill aims to prohibit food stores and retail establishments from refusing to accept payment in cash from consumers. This means that businesses cannot charge a higher price for the same item to customers who pay in cash compared to those who use alternative payment methods. Businesses can refuse to accept cash for transactions that take place entirely online or for amounts over $20. However, if a device is provided on the premises that converts cash into a prepaid card, the business must accept cash if the device malfunctions. The bill also requires businesses to display a sign indicating that they must accept cash if the device malfunctions and provides a mechanism for consumers to report any violations. The bill takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.
| Nov. 21, 2025 | SIGNED CHAP.548 |
| Nov. 17, 2025 | DELIVERED TO GOVERNOR |
| May. 29, 2025 | returned to senate |
| May. 29, 2025 | passed assembly |
| May. 29, 2025 | ordered to third reading rules cal.349 |
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4153 2025-2026 Regular Sessions IN SENATE February 3, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sens. SANDERS, ADDABBO, MAY, MURRAY -- 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 prohibiting retail establishments from refusing to accept payment in cash 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-ii to read as follows: 3 § 396-ii. Cashless policies prohibited. a. As used in this section, 4 the following terms shall have the following meanings: 5 (i) "Food-service establishment" shall mean an establishment which 6 gives or offers for sale food or beverages to the public for consumption 7 or use on or off the premises. 8 (ii) "Retail establishment" shall mean an establishment in which 9 consumer commodities are sold, displayed or offered for sale, or which 10 provides services to consumers at retail. 11 b. It shall be unlawful for a food-service establishment or a retail 12 establishment, as policy, to refuse to accept payment in cash from 13 consumers. 14 c. A food-service establishment or retail establishment violating this 15 section is liable for a civil penalty of not more than two hundred fifty 16 dollars for the first violation and a civil penalty of not more than 17 five hundred dollars for each succeeding violation. 18 d. The department of labor may promulgate such rules as it deems 19 necessary to implement and enforce this section. 20 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 21 it shall have become a law. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD00727-01-5