Payment Choice Act of 2025

Guaranteed Cash Acceptance: Retailers must accept cash for transactions up to $500, ensuring consumers can use physical currency for purchases at physical locations (Section 3(a)(1)).

Price Fairness: Businesses are prohibited from charging higher prices to customers who pay with cash compared to those using other payment methods (Section 3(a)(2)).

Consumer Rights to Redress: Aggrieved customers have the right to deliver notice of a violation to a business and can file civil actions for relief, including seeking injunctions or damages (Section 3(e)(1)).

Financial Recovery: Customers may be entitled to actual damages or liquidated damages of $250 if they are harmed by a violation (Section 3(e)(2)).

Access to Legal Assistance: Courts have the authority to appoint a court-paid attorney for individuals to help them commence a civil action (Section 3(e)(5)).

Restrictions on Large Bills: For the first five years after enactment, businesses are not required to accept cash payments in $50 bills or any larger denominations (Section 3(d)(1)).

Prepaid Card Fees: If a business uses a device to convert cash to a prepaid card, they may charge an inactivity fee if there has been no activity for 12 months (Section 3(c)).

Business Operational Burdens: Businesses may face civil penalties of up to $500 for a first offense or up to $1,500 for subsequent offenses if they violate the cash acceptance rules (Section 3(e)(2)).

Legal Costs: Prevailing parties in civil actions may be required to pay reasonable attorney's fees up to $3,000 (Section 3(e)(6)).