The proposed bill, General Assembly Committee Bill No. 1118, aims to prohibit state and municipal agencies from charging service fees for payments made via debit or credit cards. Effective July 1, 2025, the bill amends several sections of the general statutes, including Section 1-1j, Section 12-39r, Section 12-141a, Section 14-11i, Section 19a-88, Section 45a-113b, and Section 51-193b. Key insertions include provisions that state agencies and municipalities "shall not charge the payor using such card a service fee" and that any entity processing such payments on behalf of the agency is also prohibited from imposing fees. The bill removes previous language that allowed for the imposition of service fees under certain conditions, thereby ensuring that all payments made by card will not incur additional costs to the payor.

In addition to eliminating service fees, the bill maintains the requirement that payments by credit card, charge card, debit card, or electronic payment services must be made under conditions prescribed by the relevant authorities. The legislation reflects a commitment to making payment processes more accessible and cost-effective for individuals interacting with state and municipal agencies. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the financial experience of taxpayers and service users by removing barriers associated with payment fees.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 1-1j, 12-39r, 12-141a, 14-11i, 51-193b