HB4592 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB104 18320 SPS 31760 b

104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2025 and 2026
HB4592

Introduced 2/3/2026, by Rep. Rita Mayfield

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

20 ILCS 5/5-735 new
50 ILCS 345/1
50 ILCS 345/40 new
815 ILCS 505/MMMM new

Amends the Civil Administrative Code of Illinois. Provides that a State agency shall accept cash when offered as payment for any transaction totaling $500 or less. Prohibits a State agency from charging a higher price or adding any additional fee if a transaction conducted in cash. Amends the Local Governmental Acceptance of Credit Cards Act. Changes the name of the Act to the Local Governmental Acceptance of Credit Cards and Cash Act. Provides that a unit of local government shall accept cash when offered as payment for any transaction totaling $500 or less. Prohibits a unit of local government from charging a higher price or adding any additional fee if a transaction conducted in cash. Amends the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. Provides that any person engaged in the business of selling or offering to sell goods or services at retail to the public with an individual accepting in-person payments at a physical location shall not: (1) refuse to accept cash as a form of payment for sales of less than $500 made at the physical location; (2) post a sign on the premises stating that cash payment is not accepted; or (3) charge a higher price to customers paying with cash compared to the price charged to customers not paying with cash. Sets forth exceptions to the provision. Provides that a violation of the provision is an unlawful practice within the meaning of the Act.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning business.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Civil Administrative Code of Illinois is amended by adding Sections 5-735 and 40 as follows:

(20 ILCS 5/5-735 new)

Sec. 5-735. State agencies prohibited from refusing cash payments.

(a) As used in this Section, "cash" means the coin and paper money of the United States.

(b) A State agency shall accept cash when offered as payment for any transaction totaling $500 or less. A State agency shall not charge a higher price or add any additional fee if a transaction conducted in cash.

(c) This Section does not apply to a transaction conducted by mail, telephone, or Internet.

Section 10. The Local Governmental Acceptance of Credit Cards Act is amended by changing Section 1 and by adding Section 40 as follows:

(50 ILCS 345/1)

Sec. 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the Local Governmental Acceptance of Credit Cards and Cash Act.

(Source: P.A. 90-518, eff. 8-22-97.)

(50 ILCS 345/40 new)

Sec. 40. Units of local government prohibited from refusing cash payments.

(a) As used in this Section, "cash" means the coin and paper money of the United States.

(b) A unit of local government shall accept cash when offered as payment for any transaction totaling $500 or less. A unit of local government shall not charge a higher price or add any additional fee if a transaction is conducted in cash.

(c) This Section does not apply to a transaction conducted by mail, telephone, or Internet.

Section 15. The Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act is amended by adding Section MMMM as follows:

(815 ILCS 505/MMMM new)

Sec. MMMM. Retail businesses prohibited from refusing cash payments.

(a) As used in this Section, "cash" means the coin and paper money of the United States.

(b) Any person engaged in the business of selling or offering to sell goods or services at retail to the public with an individual accepting in-person payments at a physical location shall not:

(1) refuse to accept cash as a form of payment for sales of less than $500 made at the physical location;

(2) post a sign on the premises stating that cash payment is not accepted; or

(3) charge a higher price to customers paying with cash compared to the price charged to customers not paying with cash.

(c) The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply if the person:

(1) is unable to accept cash because of:

(A) a sales system failure that temporarily prevents the processing of cash payments; or

(B) a temporary insufficiency in cash on hand needed to provide change;

(2) provides customers with a device that converts cash into prepaid cards on the premises if:

(A) there is no fee for use of the device;

(B) the device does not require a minimum deposit of more than one dollar;

(C) any funds placed onto a prepaid card using the device do not expire;

(D) the device does not collect any personal identifying information from the customer; and

(E) there is no fee to use the prepaid card that the device produces; or

(3) is selling or offering to sell goods or services at retail to the public:

(A) as a street vendor;

(B) as a vendor at a temporary market or festival;

(C) from any business operating from a vehicle or other mobile space, such as a food truck;

(D) from a temporary physical premises, such as a pop-up shop; or

(E) from any business selling goods or services at an airport.

(d) A person who sells or offers to sell goods or services at retail at a physical location with more than one point of sale complies with this Section if no fewer than one point of sale at the physical location accepts cash. If the physical location includes one or more drive-through or drive-in points of sale, no fewer than one drive-through or drive-in point of sale at the physical location must accept cash.

(e) This Section does not apply to retail sales conducted by mail, telephone, or Internet.

(f) Nothing in this Section requires a person to accept $20 bills or any larger bill as payment for goods or services.

(g) Any person who violates this Section commits an unlawful practice within the meaning of this Act.