Ohio lawmakers are pushing back against the trend of cashless transactions with a new proposal that aims to keep physical money in play for everyday purchases. The Currency Access to Spend Here (CASH) bill, known as House Bill 554, would mandate that businesses and government offices in the state accept cash for transactions up to $500. This means at least one checkout spot—whether run by a machine or a person—must handle bills and coins, without slapping extra fees on cash users.
Retail giants like Walmart, Costco, and Target have been rolling out self-checkout kiosks that often skip cash altogether, favoring cards and apps. If this bill passes, those stores might need to adjust their setups to include cash options, preserving a traditional payment method that’s rooted in American commerce.
“It’s simple, cash is the basis for business in America. Our taxpayers should always have the ability to use cash in their daily lives,” said Ohio state Rep. David Thomas, the Republican from Jefferson who introduced the measure.
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