HB545 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Norman CrowRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Legal tender; authorizing the rounding of in-person cash transactions to the nearest five cents

Summary

The bill allows rounding in-person cash purchases to the nearest five cents.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, cash transactions paid in person can be rounded to the nearest five cents using a specific rule. The rounding follows: final digit 1 or 2 rounds down to zero; 3 or 4 rounds up to five; 6 or 7 rounds down to five; 8 or 9 rounds up to zero; a final digit of five or zero is not rounded. The rounding applies to the cash portion of the transaction (either the total amount or the change, if chosen) and does not change prices, taxes, or any non-cash payments. It does not apply to transactions paid to government entities, and if both cash and another payment method are used, only the cash portion is rounded. The Department of Revenue must post notice about the rounding on its website. The act becomes effective immediately.

Who It Affects

• In-person cash customers, who may see the amount they owe or receive as change rounded when paying with cash
• Retailers and cashiers/merchants, who must apply the rounding rules in cash transactions

Key Provisions

• Rounding to the nearest five cents using the specified final-digit rules
• Rounding may apply to the total transaction amount or to the change given, but not to taxes, surcharges, or non-cash payments
• If a transaction uses both cash and another payment method, only the cash portion is rounded
• Does not apply to transactions paid to governmental entities
• Department of Revenue must post a notice about the rounding on its website
• Effective immediately

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 31, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Consumer Protection