Congress mandates cash acceptance, empowering customers to sue retailers
S. 2326 — Payment Choice Act of 2025 · Filed by Kevin Cramer (R-ND) · 1 cosponsor · Introduced Jul 17, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill requires retail businesses that accept in-person payments to accept cash for transactions up to $500 and prohibits charging cash customers higher prices than card-paying customers. It creates a private right of action allowing customers to sue retailers for violations, with damages starting at $250 and civil penalties up to $1,500. The bill also requires banks to report ATM locations annually to Congress.
Why we flagged it
The bill's core function is to establish and enforce a consumer right to use cash at retail without discrimination or refusal, backed by private litigation. This is a consumer protection measure, not a financial deregulation or industry carve-out.
What the text implies
- The $500 per-transaction cap may not cover large purchases (appliances, furniture, vehicles), limiting practical cash utility for high-value transactions.
- Private right of action with low damages floor ($250 minimum) may generate high-volume litigation against small retailers, creating compliance burden and legal costs that could disproportionately affect small businesses.
The full analysis lists 5 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
unbanked and underbanked consumers; cash-dependent retail customers; civil litigation attorneys (private right of action)