SB 3255 Hawaii Senate · 2026 Regular Session

RELATING TO CURRENCY.

SB 3255 requires retail merchants to accept cash payments for all in-person transactions. This directly affects businesses that sell goods or services face-to-face and customers who prefer using physical cash. The key provision mandates that merchants cannot refuse cash simply because it is cash, ensuring it remains a valid payment method. The bill focuses on maintaining cash accessibility without specifying exceptions or penalties for non-compliance. It does not address digital payments or online transactions.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

Senate Passage

May 2026

House Passage

May 2026

Signed into Law

Jun 2026

Introduced Jan 28, 2026 Signed Jun 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB3255_HD2 → SB3255_SD1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to strengthen protections for cash users by explicitly requiring merchants to accept cash in-person transactions and adding a new legal definition for 'merchant.' The text was expanded to emphasize that refusing cash creates barriers for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and unbanked individuals. The effective date was moved from the year 3000 to 2050, and the report title was updated to include discrimination and public accommodations.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly mandate that all merchants accept cash for in-person transactions, whereas the original version focused primarily on rounding rules without a clear mandate to accept cash.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement that all merchants must accept cash as payment for goods or services in in-person transactions.

DEFINITION

Added a specific definition for 'merchant' referencing existing state law to clarify who must comply with the cash acceptance rule.

SCOPE

Expanded the legislative findings to explicitly state that refusing cash excludes vulnerable populations like kupuna and the unbanked.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the bill from July 1, 3000 to July 1, 2050.

TECHNICAL

Updated the report title and description to reflect the new requirement for merchants to accept cash and to include discrimination and public accommodations.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with Representative(s) Reyes Oda voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Garcia, Muraoka voting no (2) and none excused (0).

lower

May 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 2 (Senator(s) Awa, San Buenaventura). Excused, 0 (none).

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 76-26) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 05-06-26.

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 76-26).

upper

Apr 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Yamashita, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 2 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Lamosao; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 1 No(es): Senator(s) Awa; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 28, 2026

Lower · Passed

Bill scheduled for Conference Committee Meeting on Wednesday, 04-29-26 3:30PM in conference room 224.

lower

Apr 16, 2026

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 16, 2026

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 770).

upper

Apr 14, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; Representative(s) Muraoka voting no (1) and Representative(s) Quinlan excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Apr 7, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on FIN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 16 Ayes: Representative(s) Todd, Takenouchi, Hartsfield, Hussey, Keohokapu-Lee Loy, Kitagawa, Kusch, Lee, M., Miyake, Morikawa, Perruso, Templo, Yamashita, Alcos, Gedeon, Reyes Oda; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Mar 24, 2026

Committee

Reported from CPC (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1338-26) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to FIN.

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Lower · Passed

The committee on CPC recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Matayoshi, Grandinetti, Chun, Ilagan, Ichiyama, Kong, Marten, Tam, Pierick; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Iwamoto; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Lowen.

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPC, FIN, referral sheet 17

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 395) in amended form (SD 1).

lower

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed Third Reading, as amended (SD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 0 (none). Transmitted to House.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Report adopted; Passed Second Reading, as amended (SD 1).

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes in CPN were as follows: 5 Aye(s): Senator(s) Keohokalole, Fukunaga, Lamosao, McKelvey, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee on CPN will reconsider its previous decision on 02-25-26 and will hold a public decision making on 03-04-26 9:34AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Upper · Passed

upper

Feb 20, 2026

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on CPN has scheduled a public hearing on 02-25-26 9:32AM; Conference Room 229 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to CPN.

upper

Jan 28, 2026

Introduced

Introduced.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors