A GOOD IDEA. YEAH, GUYS, GOOD EVENING TO YOU. DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK, FOR BETTER OR WORSE, IT’S BECOMING A LOT HARDER TO PAY FOR THINGS USING CASH AND EASIER TO USE A CARD OR EVEN YOUR PHONE. WELL, THAT HAS SOME LAWMAKERS HERE AT THE CAPITOL CONCERNED FROM RESTAURANTS AND BARS TO THE BRICKTOWN BALLPARK AND EVEN THE PAYCOM CENTER, THE AMOUNT OF BUSINESSES AND ESTABLISHMENTS THAT NO LONGER ACCEPT CASH IS GROWING. WHILE SOME APPLAUD THE EASE OF USING A CARD OR EVEN A SERVICE LIKE APPLE PAY TO BUY THINGS, SOME OKLAHOMA LAWMAKERS ARE RAISING THE ALARM THAT CASH IS LEGAL TENDER. WE DO NOT WANT TO LOSE THAT. OKLAHOMA STATE REPRESENTATIVE DAVID HARDIN’S BILL WOULD REQUIRE RETAILERS TO ACCEPT CASH AS A FORM OF PAYMENT. IT WOULD ALSO PUNISH A BUSINESS WITH HEFTY FINES IF THEY STILL REFUSED TO ACCEPT CASH. IF THEY DON’T WANT TO ACCEPT CASH, THEN MAYBE IT SHOULD MOVE TO ANOTHER STATE. SOME BUSINESSES THAT KOCO HAS TALKED WITH SAY THEY WENT CASHLESS FOR SAFETY REASONS. LIKE BOOMTOWN CREAMERY IN THE UPTOWN 23RD DISTRICT DID LAST YEAR AFTER A STRING OF ARMED ROBBERIES IN THE AREA. IF I CAN, LIKE, REMOVE THE INCENTIVE FROM YOU KNOW, SOMEONE COMING IN AND TRYING TO ROB US AND IT KEEPS MY IT MAKES MY STAFF FEEL SAFER AND IT KEEPS MY STORE SAFER. LIKE I’M GOING TO DO THAT. AS THE BILL WAS HEARD IN FRONT OF THE BANKING AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MONDAY AFTERNOON, SOME LAWMAKERS WANTED TO SEE MORE EXCEPTIONS LIKE SAFETY REASONS ADDED TO THE BILL. JUST WALK ME THROUGH WHY WE THINK IT’S WHY WE THINK IT’S OKAY FOR US TO BE TELLING PRIVATE INDUSTRY WHAT THEY CAN AND CANNOT ACCEPT AS FAR AS WITH THEIR AND SET THEIR OWN POLICIES. REP HARDIN STOOD BY HIS BILL. WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOMS TO TO TO PAY IN CASH. THE CASHLESS BAN BILL PASSED OUT OF THAT COMMITTEE IN AN 8 TO 2 VOTE. AND NOW THAT THAT BILL HAS PASSED OUT OF TH
Bill could force Oklahoma businesses to accept cash as form of payment
A bill making its way around the Capitol would force most businesses in the state to accept cash as a form of payment.
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Updated: 10:07 PM CST Feb 12, 2024
Going cashless is something Oklahoma has seen more and more as businesses decide they no longer will accept cash.A bill making its way around the Capitol would force most businesses in the state to accept cash as a form of payment. From restaurants and bars to the Bricktown Ballpark and the Paycom Center, the amount of businesses and establishments no longer accepting cash has grown.While some applaud the ease of using a card or even services such as Apple Pay to buy things, some Oklahoma lawmakers are raising the alarm."Cash is legal tender. We do not want to lose that," said state Rep. David Hardin, author of the bill.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Hardin's bill would require retailers to accept cash as a form of payment. It would also punish a business with hefty fines if they still refused to accept cash."If they don't want to accept cash, then maybe they should move to another state," Hardin said.Some businesses that have spoken to KOCO 5 said they went cashless for safety reasons, such as Boomtown Creamery, which did so last year after a string of armed robberies in the area."If I can remove the incentive from someone coming in and trying to rob us, and it makes my staff feel safer, and it keeps my store safer, I'm going to do that," said Angela Muir, the owner of Boomtown Creamery.>> Download the KOCO 5 AppAs the bill was heard in front of the Banking and Finance Committee on Monday afternoon, some lawmakers wanted to see more exceptions, such as safety reasons, added to the bill."Walk me through why you think it is okay for us to be telling private industry what they can and cannot accept and set their own policies," said Rep. Chad Caldwell.Hardin stood by his bill."We need to protect our own freedoms to pay in cash," Hardin said.The cashless ban bill passed out of the committee in an 8-2 vote. Under the proposal, there are some exceptions as to what businesses would still be able to be cashless.Now that it has passed out of committee, the bill can be heard for a vote on the full House floor.Top Headlines Many schools across Oklahoma closed, moved to virtual learning Monday due to snowfall Sunday's snowfall causes wet, slushy road conditions in Oklahoma Best moments from the 2024 Super Bowl WATCH: As snow continues to fall, car goes off I-40 overpass WATCH: Sky 5 shows large flames after fire sparks in OKC's Stockyards
OKLAHOMA CITY — Going cashless is something Oklahoma has seen more and more as businesses decide they no longer will accept cash.
A bill making its way around the Capitol would force most businesses in the state to accept cash as a form of payment. From restaurants and bars to the Bricktown Ballpark and the Paycom Center, the amount of businesses and establishments no longer accepting cash has grown.
While some applaud the ease of using a card or even services such as Apple Pay to buy things, some Oklahoma lawmakers are raising the alarm.
"Cash is legal tender. We do not want to lose that," said state Rep. David Hardin, author of the bill.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Hardin's bill would require retailers to accept cash as a form of payment. It would also punish a business with hefty fines if they still refused to accept cash.
"If they don't want to accept cash, then maybe they should move to another state," Hardin said.
Some businesses that have spoken to KOCO 5 said they went cashless for safety reasons, such as Boomtown Creamery, which did so last year after a string of armed robberies in the area.
"If I can remove the incentive from someone coming in and trying to rob us, and it makes my staff feel safer, and it keeps my store safer, I'm going to do that," said Angela Muir, the owner of Boomtown Creamery.
>> Download the KOCO 5 App
As the bill was heard in front of the Banking and Finance Committee on Monday afternoon, some lawmakers wanted to see more exceptions, such as safety reasons, added to the bill.
"Walk me through why you think it is okay for us to be telling private industry what they can and cannot accept and set their own policies," said Rep. Chad Caldwell.
Hardin stood by his bill.
"We need to protect our own freedoms to pay in cash," Hardin said.
The cashless ban bill passed out of the committee in an 8-2 vote. Under the proposal, there are some exceptions as to what businesses would still be able to be cashless.
Now that it has passed out of committee, the bill can be heard for a vote on the full House floor.
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