House committee rejects $500 cash‑limit substitute, reports bill to require state agencies to accept cash

The House Committee on Government Operations voted to report House Bill 5340 with recommendation after rejecting a substitute that would have limited required cash acceptance to payments of no more than $500.

Representative Fitzgerald offered the substitute, saying it would “make it so that cash payments would be accepted for not more than $500,” arguing that a cap would preserve accurate, traceable accounting for state transactions. A roll call on the substitute recorded two yeas and three nays; the clerk announced “2 yeas, 3 nays,” and the substitute failed.

Representative Harris then moved to report House Bill 5340 with recommendation. The clerk recorded four yes votes and one pass; the motion prevailed and the bill was reported with recommendation. The committee’s procedural discussion noted that some vehicle registration transactions can exceed $400, with two‑year plates sometimes pushing totals higher, a point raised in debate over whether a $500 cap would cover typical payments.

The bill, as described from the committee table, would require state agencies to accept cash without adding additional fees. Committee members pressed for clarity on how such a rule would apply to different transaction types before final action beyond reporting the bill. The committee took no further floor action on the measure at the meeting and adjourned.

Next steps: House Bill 5340 was reported out of the committee with recommendation; the legislative record will show where it is scheduled next.