West Virginia 2024 Regular Session Status: In Committee 5 R cosponsors

HB 4941 — Businesses in WV must accept cash

Last action — To House Judiciary

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House of Delegates
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House of Delegates. Introduced January 19, 2024. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House of Delegates.

Prognosis

Stalled 26% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

Low

How often bills like it became law.

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (5 R).

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

39 added · 17 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of HB 4941 now includes specific provisions that require businesses in West Virginia to accept cash payments while allowing exceptions for retailers that offer devices to convert cash into prepaid cards, as long as those devices do not charge fees for conversion. Additionally, the updated bill establishes requirements for these devices, such as providing receipts for cash deposits and issuing prepaid cards without expiration dates. These changes are significant because they aim to protect cash-paying customers while clarifying the responsibilities of retailers, thereby promoting equality in payment options for consumers.

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WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Introduced House Bill 4941 By Delegates Crouse, Petitto, Lucas, Moore, and Smith [Introduced January 19, 2024;
CS for HB 4941 WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION Committee Substitute for House Bill 4941 By Delegates Crouse, Petitto, Lucas, Moore, and Smith [Introduced January 25, 2024;
Referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Tourism] Intr HB 2024R2087 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §31-22-1 and §31-22-2, all relating to requiring businesses in West Virginia to accept cash as a form of payment.
Referred to the Committee on Judiciary] CS for HB 4941 A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §31-22-1 and §31-22-2, prohibiting discrimination against cash buyers of food, goods and services physically present in a place of business;
excepting retailers who provide a device that converts cash, without charging a fee for the conversion nor a deposit amount greater than five U.S.
dollars, into a pre-paid card, authorizing rulemaking by the West Virginia Treasurer and Department of Commerce, establishing a fine for violation, and establishing an effective date;
all relating to requiring businesses in West Virginia to accept cash as a form of payment.
This section shall not apply to telephone, mail order, electronic, online, or other transactions in which the buyer is not present in the establishment's physical place of business.
This section shall not apply to telephone, mail order, electronic, online, or other transactions in which the buyer is not present in the establishment's physical place of business:
“Provided, That the requirement for a retailer to accept cash, shall not apply to a retail establishment that provides on premises, or in the case of mobile vehicular-based businesses in or on the mobile vehicular-based business, a device that converts cash, without charging a fee for the conversion nor a deposit amount greater than five U.S.
dollars, into a pre-paid card that will allow a consumer to complete a transaction at such retail establishment.
The device must:
(1) Upon request provide each consumer with a receipt indicating the amount of cash such consumer deposited onto the prepaid card;
and (2) Issue pre-paid cards in the amount of the full value of the cash deposited and such 1 CS for HB 4941 cards shall have no expiration date nor limit the number of transactions which may be completed by the consumer with such card.
(d) The term “retail mercantile establishment” as used in §31-22-1 of the code, shall exclude banks as defined in Chapter 31A of the code, and credit unions as defined in Chapter 31C of the code for deposit transactions greater than $10,000.00 U.S.
dollars.
This article shall take effect upon passage.
This article shall take effect January 1, 2025.
The purpose of this bill is to require businesses in West Virginia to accept cash as a form of payment.
The purpose of this bill is to require retail businesses in West Virginia to accept cash as a form of payment when tendered by a West Virginia consumer.
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Action History

  1. To House Judiciary

  2. By substitute, do pass, but first to Judiciary

  3. To House Economic Development and Tourism

  4. Introduced in House

  5. To Economic Development and Tourism

  6. Filed for introduction

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 146 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (146)

146 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety finance
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 4941?
HB 4941 is sponsored by Henry Dillon (Republican), Smith, Erica Moore (Republican), Patrick Lucas (Republican), Mickey Petitto (Republican), and Kathie Hess Crouse (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 4941?
This bill is in committee in the House of Delegates. Introduced January 19, 2024. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
Where can I track HB 4941?
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Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

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