Overview
- Effective Saturday, the statewide law makes it illegal for food and retail businesses to refuse cash for goods or services.
- Businesses may not require payment by credit card or other cashless methods, and they cannot charge higher prices to customers who pay in cash.
- Violations carry civil penalties of up to $1,000 for a first offense and $1,500 for each additional offense, according to the attorney general.
- Exceptions include no obligation to accept bills larger than $20 and no requirement to take cash for phone, mail, or online orders unless the transaction is completed in-store.
- Stores can comply by offering an on‑site device that converts cash to a prepaid card with no fee and a minimum load of no more than $1, and the attorney general is inviting complaints from the public.