Two legislators signed onto a bipartisan bill in recent weeks that would require stores to accept cash as a legal currency across the United States.
One of those lawmakers, Representative Thomas Kean of New Jersey, a Republican, explained why he decided to join the bill in a statement to Newsweek.
““Despite the trend of businesses phasing out cash, it remains a primary medium of exchange in the United States. Preserving consumers’ ability to pay with cash is about ensuring accessibility for the millions of Americans without bank accounts or credit and debit cards. The Payment Choice Act guarantees that no one is excluded or penalized simply because of how they choose to pay,” he wrote.
Newsweek reached out Representative John Rose, the Tennessee Republican who introduced the legislation, for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Rose introduced in February the “Payment Choice Act of 2025,” which would implement new rules for brick-and-mortar stores. The U.S. has trended toward a cashless economy, with millions of Americans preferring to pay for goods and services using credit cards, debit cards or even their smartphones. But many Americans continue to opt for cash—14 percent of American use cash for nearly all of their purchases, according to a Pew Research Center survey released in October 2022.
What to Know
Two Republican members of Congress, Representatives Thomas Kean of New Jersey and Andy Barr of Kentucky, joined onto Rose’s bill on November 17. The bill has bipartisan support from a total of 17 cosponsors.
The following members of Congress have cosponsored the bill.
- Donald Norcross, a New Jersey Democrat
- Sylvia Garcia, a Texas Democrat
- David Kustoff, a Tennessee Republican
- Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat
- Christopher Smith, a New Jersey Republican
- Glenn Ivey, a Maryland Democrat
- Warren Davidson, an Ohio Republican
- Josh Gottheimer, a New Jersey Democrat
- Cleo Fields, a Louisiana Democrat
- John Rutherford, a Florida Republican
- Martin Stutzman, an Indiana Republican
- Brad Sherman, a California Democrat
- Tim Moore, a North Carolina Republican
- Bill Huizenga, a Michigan Republican
- Pete Sessions, a Texas Republican
- Thomas Kean, a New Jersey Republican
- Andy Barr, a Kentucky Republican
A similar bill was introduced in the Senate and is sponsored by Senators Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, and John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania.
The bill would “ensure that United States currency is treated as legal tender to be accepted as payment for purchases of goods and services at brick-and-mortar businesses throughout the United States, and for other purposes,” according to its text.
Any person engaged in the business of selling or offering goods at retail to the public who accepts in-person payments would be required to “accept cash as a form of payment for sales made at such physical location in amounts up to and including $500 per transaction.”
The bill would also prohibit sellers from charging cash-paying customers a higher price compared to others.
It makes exceptions, including for cases of temporary sale system failures, not having enough cash on hand to make change or if they provide customers with a device that “converts cash into prepaid cards on the premises.”
A similar bill has been introduced in Ohio. Some states, such as Colorado and New Jersey, already have cash laws in place.
What People Are Saying
Representative John Rose, a Tennessee Republican, wrote to X in September: “I was honored to speak alongside @SenKevinCramer at the inaugural meeting of the Payment Choice Coalition, joining leaders from across the cash ecosystem to discuss my legislation, the Payment Choice Act. Cash is and always will be king. As more businesses refuse to accept it, Congress must act to safeguard the freedom, privacy, and resilience it provides.”
Senator John Fetterman, a Pennsylvania Democrat, wrote in a statement in July: “It’s simple: if you’re open for business in America, you should take U.S. dollars. I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan Payment Choice Act with Senator Cramer because every American should be able to use paper currency if they choose. We have millions of people in this country who don’t have access to bank accounts, and they must be able to go shopping with their hard-earned dollars.”
What Happens Next
The bill has bipartisan support, but it’s unclear whether it will receive broader support from the House of Representatives and be brought to a vote.