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Committee holds bill to ban credit/debit-card surcharges after broad defenses from business groups
Summary
After hours of testimony April 16 the Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture voted to hold Bill 36‑0019, which would ban credit‑card and debit‑card surcharges, at the call of the chair while the sponsor and stakeholders refine language to protect consumers without unduly burdening small businesses and licensed insurers.
The Committee on Economic Development and Agriculture heard competing testimony April 16 on Bill 36‑0019, a measure to prohibit merchants from imposing a surcharge for the use of a credit or debit card and to permit merchants to offer a discount for payment by cash or other non‑card methods.
Sponsor Senator Marvin A. Bridal said the bill would protect consumers from surprise surcharges and help the territory remain competitive as a tourist destination. “The customer sees an item on the shelf or is told the cost of the service, and then when they go to pay, they are charged an extra percentage for using a credit card,” the sponsor said during the introduction.
The committee heard a range of perspectives. The Division of Banking, Insurance and Financial Regulation and the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs recommended caution and proposed clarifying…
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