To enact section 1333.97 of the Revised Code to require retail merchants to give customers the option to pay by cash.
Summary
SB 30 would add a new section to the Revised Code requiring retail sellers to accept cash from customers for in-person retail transactions and prohibiting merchants from requiring payment by credit or otherwise refusing cash. The bill defines “at retail” to cover in-person transactions only, excluding telephone, mail, and internet-based sales. It also creates a consumer protection remedy by treating violations as unfair or deceptive acts or practices under Ohio’s consumer protection law.
The bill includes several exceptions. It would not apply to certain airport vendors, municipal parking facilities, parking facilities that are exclusively mobile-payment based, motor vehicle rental companies that accept cashier’s or certified checks, large sports or entertainment venues with at least 10,000 seats, or retail establishments that provide a no-fee cash-to-prepaid-card device meeting specified conditions. These exceptions narrow the cash-acceptance requirement in settings where cash handling may be impractical or where alternative payment conversion options are available.
Impact
If enacted, SB 30 would create a new statutory obligation for retail merchants in Ohio to accept cash for qualifying in-person sales and would expand consumer remedies for customers denied that option. It would also authorize the attorney general to enforce the new section using the same tools available under Ohio’s Consumer Sales Practices Act, and it would give injured consumers a private cause of action for relief. The bill would affect retailers, certain venue operators, parking operators, car rental companies, and businesses using cash-to-card conversion devices, while leaving online and other non-in-person transactions outside its scope.
Sentiment
The available context shows the bill as introduced and referred to the Senate Small Business and Economic Opportunity Committee, with no recorded votes or committee transcript excerpts provided. Based on the bill’s sponsorship and structure, the measure appears to reflect a policy preference for preserving cash as a payment option for consumers, especially in everyday retail settings. Because there is no recorded debate or vote history in the provided materials, the overall sentiment cannot be measured from committee discussion, but the bill’s framing suggests support for consumer choice and access to cash-based transactions.
Contention
The main points of contention are likely to involve merchant flexibility, operational costs, and the scope of exemptions. Retailers and venue operators may object to being required to accept cash because of security, staffing, accounting, and fraud concerns, while supporters would likely emphasize access for unbanked or underbanked consumers and those who prefer cash. The bill’s exceptions for airports, large venues, parking facilities, and cash-to-prepaid-card systems suggest an effort to balance those concerns, but the precise boundaries of the exemptions could still be disputed by affected businesses and consumer advocates.