This bill proposes to amend current statutes by adding a new section to Title 44, Chapter 38 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which will require retail businesses with a physical location in the state to accept cash for goods and services valued at $100 or less. It prohibits these businesses from charging any fees or penalties for cash transactions. Additionally, the bill establishes a cause of action for individuals denied the right to use cash or charged a fee for cash payments, allowing them to seek damages of $1,000 per violation or $5,000 total, along with reasonable attorney fees.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that the court adjust the specified damages annually for inflation based on the Consumer Price Index. It clarifies that the cash acceptance requirement does not apply to written contracts specifying payment methods or online sales. The chapter heading of Title 44, Chapter 38 will also be updated from "BUSINESSES EXEMPT FROM MASK MANDATE" to "BUSINESSES GENERALLY," and a definition for "retail business" will be included, aligning it with existing classifications.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 44-7952
House Engrossed Version: 44-7952