Committee approves substitute to HB 28‑19 adding merchant 'safe harbor' for rounding

The Ways and Means Committee adopted a committee substitute to House Bill 28‑19 that would permit merchants to round cash transactions under specified cent thresholds and includes safe-harbor language shielding merchants from certain suits.

The sponsor told the committee the substitute inserts a safe-harbor so merchants who previously rounded consistently would not face lawsuits once the rounding practice is codified. The sponsor explained the rounding convention in detail: amounts ending in 1–2 cents round down, 3–4 cents round up, 5 cents is a nickel, 6–7 cents round down, and 8–9 cents round up.

Representative Taylor asked whether rounding would be mandatory; the sponsor said it would be permissive ("may") and that merchants retain discretion over rounding direction. The committee adopted the substitute by voice and then recorded a roll-call vote that the chair announced in the transcript as 9 ayes with 1 absent; the clerk reported the substitute "do pass."