A BILL to amend and reenact § 59.1-200 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 59.1 a chapter numbered 60, consisting of sections numbered 59.1-614 through 59.1-616, relating to Virginia Consumer Protection Act; cash payments; discrimination prohibited; penalty.
HB984 would amend the Virginia Consumer Protection Act to add a new prohibition against discriminating against cash payments in retail sales. Under the bill, a supplier could not refuse cash, post signs saying cash is not accepted, or charge a higher price to consumers who pay with cash. The bill defines cash as U.S. coins and currency, and it defines retail sale broadly to cover consumer transactions for goods and services, with some limits and exceptions.
The bill also adds a new Chapter 60 to Title 59.1 establishing the cash-payment rule and making violations enforceable as prohibited practices under the Consumer Protection Act. That means a business that violates the cash-acceptance requirement would be subject to the same enforcement tools and penalties already available under Virginia consumer protection law. The bill also amends § 59.1-200 to add a new prohibited practice for violating the new chapter, integrating the cash-payment rule into the existing consumer protection framework.
HB984 would change Virginia law by creating a statewide requirement that most in-person retail sellers accept cash and by treating noncompliance as a consumer protection violation. The measure would affect suppliers engaged in retail sales, while exempting mail, phone, and internet sales, certain credit-card security deposit transactions, and businesses that provide a fee-free cash-to-prepaid-card conversion device on site. It would also expand the list of prohibited practices in the Virginia Consumer Protection Act to include violations of the new cash-payment chapter, allowing enforcement under existing VCPA remedies and penalties.
There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured from transcripts or floor action. Based on the bill’s structure, it appears aimed at consumer access and payment choice rather than at a narrow industry regulation. The bill was referred to Labor and Commerce and was left in committee, indicating it did not advance during the available legislative stage.
The main policy issue is whether businesses should be required to accept cash in retail settings. Supporters would likely view the bill as protecting consumers who rely on cash, while opponents may argue it imposes operational burdens, security concerns, or limits business flexibility in payment policies. The bill’s exceptions for online and remote sales, security-deposit transactions, and cash-to-prepaid-card kiosks suggest an attempt to balance consumer access with business concerns, but no specific stakeholder objections are documented in the provided record.