HB 554: Require government, private sellers to accept cash as payment
This bill requires certain businesses to accept cash as payment when selling goods or services totaling $500 or less. It applies to governmental entities and private sellers, including retail transactions conducted in person, and excludes telephone, mail, or internet-based transactions. Businesses must provide a point-of-sale station that allows cash payments and cannot charge a higher price for cash payments compared to non-cash payments. The bill also prohibits violating businesses from charging higher prices for cash payments and provides relief to consumers who have been injured by such violations.
| Oct. 29, 2025 | Referred to committee: General Government |
| Oct. 28, 2025 | Introduced |
As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session
To enact sections $9.18, 1333.96, 1333.97$, and 1
1333.98 of the Revised Code to require 2
governmental entities and private sellers to 3
accept cash as payment in certain circumstances.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections $9.18, 1333.96, 1333.97$, and 5
1333.98 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 9.18.
subdivision, or any private person or business acting as an
agent of the state or a political subdivision, that accepts
payments from people at a physical location.
section 9.48 of the Revised Code.
the Revised Code.
hundred dollars or less, a governmental entity shall accept cash
when offered as payment.
Sec. 1333.96.
Sec. 1333.97.
The requirements stated in section 1333.96 of the Revised Code do not apply to a person selling goods or services at an airport.
Sec. 1333.98.
A violation of section 1333.96 of the Revised Code is an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of section 1345.02 of the Revised Code. A person injured by a violation of section 1333.96 of the Revised Code has a cause of action and is entitled to the same relief available to a consumer under section 1345.09 of the Revised Code. All powers and remedies available to the attorney general to enforce sections 1345.01 to 1345.13 of the Revised Code are available to the attorney general to enforce section 1333.96 of the Revised Code.