Committee advances bill that would bar most retailers from refusing cash; senators debate safety, business-size exemptions

The Senate Committee on Consumer Protection on a date not specified advanced Senate Bill 4153, a measure to prohibit retail establishments from refusing cash payments, reporting the bill to first reading after debate over safety and size exemptions.

The bill, sponsored in the transcript as Senate Bill 41 53, is described in committee as "an act to amend the general business law in relation to prohibiting retail establishments from refusing to accept payment in cash." Committee members moved and seconded the bill and then discussed potential unintended consequences before voting to report the measure.

A state senator who identified themselves only in the transcript as speaking and whose name was not specified in the record said, "I have very strong, opinions that this is not something that we should, dictate to our businesses. So I'm gonna be a nay on this vote on this bill." That speaker expressed concerns about hotels and overnight shops that have chosen to operate cashless for employee safety.

Senator Gonzalez, who spoke during the discussion, said she was concerned about the bill's impact on unbanked or young customers. She recalled a recent retail incident, saying she was at "a Sephora" where a young girl with cash was turned away, and "she had to walk out, and she was really disappointed." Gonzalez suggested the committee consider an amendment that would account for business size or other thresholds.

Committee chair Senator Rachel May presided over the session and recorded the procedural motions and the committee's action to report the bill to first reading on the calendar. The final committee announcement was that the bill would be reported to first reading.

Discussion in committee included whether the bill's language treats certain classes of businesses differently; one member summarized that the sponsor's intent was to ensure access for people who are unbanked or underbanked, and said the bill "specifically less than food establishments as well," though the transcript does not provide a clear, final text-based exemption.

The committee did not adopt any amendment on the floor during this meeting; members discussed referring potential thresholds (for example, by business size or the nature of overnight operations) back to the sponsor for possible amendment before later consideration.

The bill will proceed to first reading on the Senate calendar. Committee discussion indicates the sponsor or other members may consider drafting an amendment to address business-size thresholds and exemptions for certain classes of retailers or operations.

Votes at a glance: The transcript records that the committee moved and seconded the measure and that at least one senator stated they would vote "nay." The committee chair announced the bill was reported to first reading; a complete tally of individual yeas and nays was not recorded in the spoken transcript.