Representative Geiss moves bill to raise allowable credit-card surcharge; committee agrees to consider 4% amendment

Representative Geiss told the committee that Senate Bill 2132 would raise the amount merchants may charge as a credit-card processing fee and include consumer-protection provisions. “It raises the amount that people can charge a credit card processing fee...from 2% to 3%,” Geiss said, and then moved the measure for adoption and yielded to questions.

Representative Hayes asked how the sponsor settled on 3 percent. “How did we come to 3%?” Hayes asked, noting that some restaurants currently pay 3.5 to 3.8 percent and expressing concern the cap might leave many businesses exposed. Hayes warned the committee could return next year for a higher cap if the level proved too low.

Geiss replied that 3 percent reflected average processor costs but told members he had just received approval from his Senate author to file an amendment raising the cap to 4 percent. “I actually did speak with my Senate author... I just received approval...to make an amendment for 4%,” he said, and said he would circulate and refine the amendment language with colleagues.

Representative Curbs asked whether the committee should adopt the amendment on the floor or let oversight staff incorporate the change later; the sponsor said he preferred to share draft language with committee members first and allow the usual review with legal staff before finalizing wording.

A motion to pass the bill was made and seconded. The committee voted unanimously, 8–0, to pass the bill and refer it to the oversight committee for further consideration.

Next steps: the committee referred SB 2132 to oversight, where members said they will review amendment language and finalize statutory text before the bill advances.