CONSUMER FRAUD-CARD SURCHARGES
SB1931 amends the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act to regulate surcharges on credit card and charge card transactions. The bill makes it an unlawful practice to impose a surcharge for using a credit card or charge card unless the merchant also accepts cash as payment for all transactions under $1,000. It also defines key terms such as “credit card,” “charge card,” “debit card,” “transaction,” and “credit card or charge card surcharge,” including digital wallet or stored-card applications.
The bill preserves merchants’ ability to encourage lower-cost payment methods. It expressly allows businesses to offer discounts for payment by cash, check, debit card, or similar means instead of credit or charge cards. In effect, the measure does not ban card surcharges outright, but conditions their use on a cash-acceptance requirement for smaller transactions.
If enacted, SB1931 would add a new Section 2HHHH to the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and make violations an unlawful business practice under that statute. This would give the state consumer protection framework a new rule governing how businesses may structure payment pricing, particularly for retail and service transactions involving card payments.
The available record shows no committee transcript, vote history, or recorded amendments, so there is no documented debate or formal opposition in the materials provided. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears aimed at consumer protection and payment fairness, with an emphasis on preserving cash access while allowing discounts for non-card payments.
SB1931 would create a new consumer-protection restriction in Illinois law by prohibiting credit card and charge card surcharges unless the merchant accepts cash for all transactions under $1,000. It would amend the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, making noncompliant surcharge practices an unlawful business practice enforceable under that Act. The bill would affect merchants, retailers, service providers, and any business that adds card-payment fees, while expressly preserving the ability to offer discounts for cash, check, debit card, or similar payment methods.
No committee discussion or voting record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of support or opposition from legislators in the available materials. The bill’s framing suggests a consumer-friendly approach that may appeal to those concerned about payment access and transparency, while still accommodating businesses that want to incentivize lower-cost payment methods. Overall, the text reflects a regulatory but not prohibitionist stance toward card surcharges.
The main policy tension in SB1931 is between merchant pricing flexibility and consumer access to cash-based payment options. Businesses that rely on card surcharges may object to the requirement that they accept cash for all transactions under $1,000, especially if they prefer cashless operations or want to offset processing costs. Supporters would likely emphasize consumer choice, transparency, and protection against surcharge practices that could burden customers who use cards. No specific stakeholder positions are documented in the provided record.