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California bills · 2025-2026 Regular Session

California AB 1793

Cash payments: calculation.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

Sponsors

Cosponsors (2)

Summary

Official abstract published by the California legislature· summary

Federal law establishes United States coins and currency as legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues, and authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue a one-cent coin. Existing state law generally regulates the use of credit cards, debit cards, gift certificates, and other forms of payment for goods and services in this state. Existing law prohibits a person from overcharging for a commodity. A violation of this provision is a crime. This bill would enact the California Common Cents Act to require a merchant, for the portion of the total transaction price paid with legal tender, to determine the total transaction price of goods or services by rounding to the nearest amount of cents divisible by 5, as specified. The bill would define terms for its purposes, including defining "legal tender" as all metal coins and paper currencies of the United States. The bill would require any rounding adjustment to be disregarded for the purposes of the computation of any applicable tax, fee, or surcharge, tax, fee, or surcharge reimbursement, or the measure thereof, and authorize the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to promulgate regulations to implement this requirement. The bill would prohibit a person from collecting from a purchaser an amount greater than the amount permitted under these provisions and would subject a violation of this prohibition to the same remedies as the prohibition against overcharging for a commodity, as provided. By expanding a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would make its provisions operative on July 1, 2027. The bill would make its provisions severable. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 15, 2026, 8:06 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Aug 24, 2026
House
AB 1793 Ward Concurrence in Senate AmendmentspassSet your home in California to see
Aug 20, 2026
Senate
3rd Reading AB1793 Ward et al. By CaballeropassSet your home in California to see
Jun 24, 2026
Senate
Do pass as amended, but first amend, and re-refer to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see
Jun 22, 2026
Senate
Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Revenue and Taxation]passSet your home in California to see
May 21, 2026
House
AB 1793 Ward Assembly Third ReadingpassSet your home in California to see
May 14, 2026
House
Do pass.passSet your home in California to see
Apr 20, 2026
House
Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]passSet your home in California to see

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