The bill establishes a new section, 559.958, in the Florida Statutes that mandates certain businesses to accept cash payments for transactions involving tangible goods or services, provided that the customer is physically present at the business. It defines key terms such as "business," "cash," and "department," and specifies that businesses cannot impose fees or conditions on cash transactions. The bill outlines exceptions to this requirement, including transactions not conducted in person, certain parking facilities, and services provided by specific professionals, among others.
Additionally, the bill imposes civil penalties for businesses that fail to comply, with fines escalating from $2,500 for a first offense to $10,000 for subsequent offenses. The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is tasked with adopting rules to implement the provisions of this section. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.