Committee unanimously approves bill to require cash acceptance at school events

House Bill 685, sponsored by Representative Miles, was approved unanimously by the Commerce Committee as amended to clarify that cash is an accepted method of payment at school events hosted by school entities, nonpublic schools, or associations.

Jen, committee staff, summarized the bill: "the bill amends the school code to provide for cash payments at school events." Amendment A0092 (Chairman Lawrence) clarified definitions so that "cash is accepted as a form of payment at a school event held by a school entity, non public school, or association," and that "non public school and association are now all defined in the bill."

During discussion, one representative described personal experience with cashless entry at youth sporting events: "this isn't eliminating being able to buy your ticket online. It's just saying what our dollar bills say right on them, if you read them, that this is legal tender for all debts, public and private." The speaker said cashless systems can "disenfranchise a whole plethora of people, senior citizens especially," and noted seniors and youth without smartphones or cards have been left outside gates. Multiple members, including Representative Marcel and Representative Carroll, voiced support and commended the sponsor for raising accessibility concerns.

Chairman Lawrence called for a vote; the committee recorded no negative votes and the bill "passed unanimously as amended." The committee did not record a numerical roll-call in the transcript; members expressed unanimous support on the record.