Maryland will soon require many retailers to accept cash for everyday essentials under $300 after Gov. Wes Moore signed a new mandate that hits merchants who stay card-only.
Beginning October 1, a wide slice of Maryland retail must take physical currency for key in-person sales or risk civil penalties, after The Sun reported Gov. Wes Moore approved House Bill 191 on May 26, 2026.
The measure covers millions of residents in the state and targets “essential consumer goods” sold between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. It bars stores from refusing cash, running card-only checkouts, or charging more for cash on those goods.
Montgomery County Delegate Greg Wims sponsored the bill, titled “Consumer Protection, Retail Transactions for Essential Consumer Goods, Cash Payments.” The Maryland State Bar Association says the law will stop merchants from shutting out cash customers on covered sales during those hours.
The protection applies to in-person retail transactions under $300. Covered goods include food, water, personal hygiene and health products, and fuel.
Internet, mail, and phone orders are out. So are vending machines and certain kiosks, including parking. Restaurants and other businesses that mainly sell food or drinks for on-site consumption are exempt.
Fuel sellers that require a paid membership do not have to take cash for fuel. Stores may turn away bills larger than $20. A business may also stay cashless if it offers an on-site machine that turns cash into a prepaid card with no deposit and no fee.
Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive trade practices under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office gives a business two chances to comply before sanctions.
First violations can bring fines up to $500. Repeat violations can reach $1,000. That is the enforcement stick behind a rule written in Annapolis and signed by Moore.
Supporters say the bill keeps physical currency usable for people who remain unbanked or underbanked. Advocates also argue cashless policies can shut out low-income households and illegal immigrants.
A Federal Reserve report cited in the coverage found cash still made up 14% of transactions in 2024. More than 90% of consumers say they plan to keep using cash for payments or as a store of value.
Those figures show cash has not vanished. Maryland’s answer is still a new statewide command on how private merchants must run the register, complete with hour limits, a $300 cap, membership carve-outs, and a prepaid-card escape hatch.
When Democrats in Annapolis decide your corner store’s payment policy, “consumer protection” starts looking a lot like another compliance bill small businesses have to absorb.