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Bill

H 454

An Act relative to credit card surcharges

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Jake Oliveira and 1 co-sponsor

Massachusetts bill to regulate or restrict merchant credit card surcharges, balancing consumer protection against business cost recovery flexibility.

Accompanied a study order, see H5320
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Bill Summary · H 454

Legislative bill overview

H.454 addresses the regulation of credit card surcharges in Massachusetts. The bill, sponsored by Ted Philips and Jake Oliveira, has been referred to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure for review. As of the most recent action, the reporting deadline has been extended to March 18, 2026.

Why is this important

Credit card surcharges directly affect consumer costs at the point of sale. This legislation could determine whether Massachusetts businesses can pass processing fees to customers who use credit cards, impacting both consumer budgets and merchant practices across the state. The issue balances business flexibility against consumer protection, making it relevant to retail, hospitality, and service industries.

Potential points of contention

  • Consumer burden: Whether surcharges effectively shift payment processing costs to consumers, potentially disadvantaging credit card users and lower-income populations
  • Business flexibility: Whether merchants should be permitted to recover credit card processing fees or if such costs should remain their responsibility
  • Competitive fairness: How surcharge policies affect competition between businesses and between different payment methods (credit cards vs. cash/debit)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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