A new law bans some businesses from going fully cashless in New York State.<\/p>\n
A bipartisan bill signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul last month \u201cprohibits food stores and retail establishments from refusing to accept payment in cash.\u201d The legislation, similar to laws in other states like New Jersey in Colorado, is expected<\/a> to take effect March 20, 2026.<\/p>\n According to the bill, businesses will be fined if they refuse cash payments. A maximum civil penalty of $1,000 will be issued for the first violation and no more than $1,500 for each successive violation. <\/p>\n But who do the new rules apply to?<\/p>\n The bill<\/a>\u2018s language appears to cover grocery stores, restaurants, food trucks, and more, including any establishment selling retail items \u201cfor personal, household or family purposes\u201d; food and beverages \u201cfor consumption or use on or off the premises, or on or off a pushcart, stand or vehicle\u201d; or any business where \u201cconsumer commodities are sold, displayed or offered for sale, or where services are provided to consumers at retail.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s less clear what it means for the New York State Fair<\/a>, concert venues like the Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview, and sports stadiums like Syracuse University\u2019s JMA Wireless Dome. <\/p>\n All three offer food and drinks, but do not accept cash payments for tickets, parking, and other services. Fair food vendors often accept cash, while concession stands at the Dome<\/a> and Syracuse amphitheater<\/a> are entirely cashless.<\/p>\n A rep for State Senator Joe Griffo, a Republican who co-sponsored the bill, told syracuse.com that \u201cfood stores\u201d and \u201cretail establishments\u201d are broadly defined with no exemption based on for-profit, nonprofit, public, or private status. That means food and retail vendors at the NYS Fair must accept cash unless they provide a compliant no-fee cash-to-card device. <\/p>\n Food, beverage and merchandise sales inside private venues and stadiums, like the Dome and Amp, similarly fall within the definition of a \u201cfood store\u201d or \u201cretail establishment\u201d and must accept cash (or provide a compliant cash-to-card option), according to an analysis by Griffo\u2019s office.<\/p>\n However, the statute does not explicitly address whether tickets and admission fees, parking costs, or ride passes constitute \u201cconsumer commodities\u201d or \u201cservices at retail.\u201d The state Department of Labor could promulgate rules that apply further or additional legislation may be considered, Griffo\u2019s spokesperson said.<\/p>\n syracuse.com has reached out to NYS Fair representatives and ASM Global, which manages the Oncenter and Empower FCU Amphitheater, for comment.<\/p>\n New York State Senator James Sanders, Jr., a Democrat who introduced the bill earlier this year, said the goal is to improve accessibility for people who might not have credit and debit cards or digital wallets like Apple Pay.<\/p>\n \u201cI firmly believe that this legislation was necessary to protect some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers,\u201d Sanders told<\/a> Newsweek last month. \u201cWhile digital payments are becoming more common, not everyone has access to credit cards, bank accounts or smartphones. Many seniors, low-income residents, immigrants and young adults rely on cash to manage their daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cToo many stores are going cashless, shutting out seniors, immigrants and working-class New Yorkers who rely on cash every day,\u201d Assemblywoman Catalina Cruz, who sponsored the bill in the NYS Assembly, wrote on Instagram<\/a>. \u201cOur bill makes it clear: Retailers and food stores can\u2019t refuse cash \u2014 because access to essentials shouldn\u2019t depend on a credit card.\u201d<\/p>\n