Ohio lawmakers are considering a proposal that would force businesses and government offices across the state to accept cash — a move supporters say protects consumers who don’t want to rely on digital payments.
According FOX Business, the measure, called the Currency Access to Spend Here (CASH) bill, would require any business or government entity to accept cash for purchases up to $500. It would also mandate that every location maintain at least one point-of-sale option that takes physical currency.
Under the bill, businesses would also be prohibited from charging higher prices to customers choosing to pay in cash rather than with cards or digital methods.
“It’s simple, cash is the basis for business in America. Our taxpayers should always have the ability to use cash in their daily lives,” said Ohio state Rep. David Thomas, a Jefferson County Republican and the bill’s sponsor.
Thomas said that he regularly hears from constituents who distrust digital payment systems or simply prefer the tangibility of cash. “This bill balances the needs of government and business to be efficient with the ability to still rely on physical currency,” he said.
The proposal arrives as major retailers — including Costco, Walmart, and Target — continue expanding self-checkout stations. Many of those kiosks don’t accept cash, a shift that critics argue locks out consumers who don’t use or have access to digital payment tools.
If the bill passes, it could require some retailers to rethink how their checkout lanes are structured. However, the legislation does not require hiring more employees to handle cash. It specifically allows the required cash-accepting checkout to be “automated or operated by a person.”
Thomas’ legislation mirrors federal efforts underway in Washington. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., and Sen. Kevan Cramer, R-N.D., introduced the Payment Choice Act of 2025 earlier this year. Their proposal would also mandate that businesses accept cash and forbid them from charging cash-paying customers more.
Supporters argue that both measures would help protect consumer choice at a time when the economy is increasingly shaped by digital transactions. Critics in the business community have yet to weigh in, but the debate is expected to gain traction as lawmakers return to Columbus for further consideration.
