H 4159
An Act relative to cardholder surcharges
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill aims to prohibit businesses from charging customers additional fees when they pay with a credit card. Currently, many retailers and service providers add a small surcharge to transactions processed with credit cards to offset the fees they pay to credit card companies. This legislation seeks to eliminate these cardholder surcharges, ensuring that consumers are not unfairly burdened by these fees.
Key provisions
- Prohibits businesses from adding surcharges to credit card transactions.
- Applies to all businesses operating in Massachusetts.
- The goal is to shift the cost of credit card processing fees from consumers to merchants.
- The bill seeks to level the playing field between businesses that accept credit cards and those that do not.
- It aims to reduce consumer costs associated with using credit cards.
Who is affected
- Consumers
- Retailers
- Businesses
- Credit Card Companies
Notable changes
- Currently, many businesses add a small surcharge to credit card purchases.
- This bill would eliminate this practice.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Colleen M. Garry
Cosponsor
Colleen M. Garry
Arguments in favor
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Bill H.4159 194th (Current)
An Act relative to cardholder surcharges
By Representative Garry of Dracut, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Colleen M. Garry relative to credit card surcharges. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure.
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Presenter: Colleen M. Garry
Tabs
Bill History Petitioners Committee Summary Hearing Attendance
Bill History
Displaying 6 actions for Bill H.4159
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 3/24/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on House Rules |
| 5/22/2025 | House | Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure |
| 5/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 6/16/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 06/23/2025 from 10:00 AM-01:00 PM in A-1 |
| 8/25/2025 | House | Reporting date extended to Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| 4/2/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5320 |
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