An act relating to credit card fees and requiring the acceptance of cash

This Vermont bill (S.135) prohibits credit card companies from charging merchants fees on the tax or gratuity portion of a transaction and requires retailers to accept cash for all purchases under $500. It directly affects merchants, who must report tax and gratuity amounts during payment processing to avoid fees, and consumers, who gain guaranteed cash payment options for smaller purchases. Key mechanisms include mandating that payment networks exclude tax/gratuity from interchange fees and allowing merchants to correct reporting errors within 30 days. Violations carry $1,000 penalties per transaction, and the law takes effect July 1, 2025.