Two members of Congress have recently signed onto a bipartisan bill that would require stores across the United States to accept cash as a form of payment.
One of those lawmakers, Representative Thomas Kean of New Jersey, a Republican, explained why he decided to support the bill in a statement to Newsweek.
“Despite the trend of businesses phasing out cash, it remains a primary medium of exchange in the United States. Preserving consumers’ ability to pay with cash is about ensuring accessibility for the millions of Americans without bank accounts or credit and debit cards. The Payment Choice Act guarantees that no one is excluded or penalized simply because of how they choose to pay,” he wrote.
Why It Matters
Rose introduced the “Payment Choice Act of 2025” in February, proposing new rules for brick-and-mortar businesses. The U.S. has steadily moved toward a more cashless economy, as many consumers now pay with credit cards, debit cards or digital wallets on their smartphones.
Still, cash remains important for a significant portion of the population. According to an October 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center, 14 percent of Americans use cash for nearly all of their purchases.
Key Details of the Bill
Two Republican members of Congress, Representatives Thomas Kean of New Jersey and Andy Barr of Kentucky, joined Rose’s bill on November 17. In total, the legislation currently has 17 bipartisan cosponsors.
The following members of Congress have cosponsored the bill:
- Donald Norcross, a New Jersey Democrat
- Sylvia Garcia, a Texas Democrat
- David Kustoff, a Tennessee Republican
- Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat
- Christopher Smith, a New Jersey Republican
- Glenn Ivey, a Maryland Democrat
- Warren Davidson, an Ohio Republican
- Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat
- Cleo Fields, a Louisiana Democrat
- John Rutherford, a Florida Republican
- Martin Stutzman, an Indiana Republican
- Brad Sherman, a California Democrat
- Tim Moore, a North Carolina Republican
- Bill Huizenga, a Michigan Republican
- Pete Sessions, a Texas Republican
- Thomas Kean, a New Jersey Republican
- Andy Barr, a Kentucky Republican
A similar bill has been introduced in the Senate and is sponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, and John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat.
According to the bill’s text, it would “ensure that United States currency is treated as legal tender to be accepted as payment for purchases of goods and services at brick-and-mortar businesses throughout the United States, and for other purposes.”
Anyone engaged in retail sales to the public who accepts in-person payments would be required to “accept cash as a form of payment for sales made at such physical location in amounts up to and including $500 per transaction.”
The bill would also bar businesses from charging customers who pay in cash a higher price than those using other payment methods.
There are several exceptions, including:
- Temporary failures of a point-of-sale or payment system
- Situations where a business does not have enough cash on hand to make change
- Cases where a business provides a device on the premises that converts cash into prepaid cards
A similar measure has been proposed in Ohio, and some states—such as Colorado and New Jersey—already have cash-acceptance laws in place.
What Lawmakers Are Saying
Representative John Rose, a Tennessee Republican, wrote on X in September:
“I was honored to speak alongside @SenKevinCramer at the inaugural meeting of the Payment Choice Coalition, joining leaders from across the cash ecosystem to discuss my legislation, the Payment Choice Act. Cash is and always will be king. As more businesses refuse to accept it, Congress must act to safeguard the freedom, privacy, and resilience it provides.”
Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, said in a July statement:
“It’s simple: if you’re open for business in America, you should take U.S. dollars. I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan Payment Choice Act with Senator Cramer because every American should be able to use paper currency if they choose. We have millions of people in this country who don’t have access to bank accounts, and they must be able to go shopping with their hard-earned dollars.”
What Happens Next
The bill has drawn support from both Republicans and Democrats, but it remains unclear whether it will gain enough momentum in the House of Representatives to be brought to the floor for a vote.
