Massachusetts H5138: An Act relative to consumer protections for low valued legal tender scarcity

What the bill says

From the introduced text, January 27, 2026:

SECTION 1. Section 10A of chapter 255D of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by added at the end thereof of the following 2 paragraphs:- In any case in which the total transaction amount, including any taxes or fees, ends with 1 cent, cents, cents, or 7 cents as the final digit, the amount of cents in the sum shall be rounded down to the nearest amount divisible by 5 for any buyer seeking to make a payment or portion thereof with legal tender. In any case in which the total transaction amount, including any taxes or fees, ends with 3 cents, cents, cents, or 9 cents as the final digit, the amount of cents in the sum shall be rounded up to the nearest amount divisible by 5 for any buyer seeking to make a payment or portion thereof with legal tender; provided, however, where the total transaction amount, including any taxes or fees, totals $0.01 or $0.02, such transaction may be rounded up to $0.05 for any buyer seeking to make a payment with legal tender. The foregoing paragraph shall not apply to goods or services where a buyer offers to use as total payment: electronic fund transfer, check, gift card, money order, credit card, or other similar instrument or method …

Read the full official text

Sponsors

• Tackey Chan (D, 2nd Norfolk) · primary sponsor
• Kate Donaghue (D)
• Lisa Field (D, 3rd Bristol)
• Patrick Kearney (D, 4th Plymouth)
• Joseph McKenna (R, 18th Worcester)
• Alan Silvia (D)
• Jeffrey Turco (D, 19th Suffolk)

Latest actions

1. May 26, 2026: Accompanied a new draft, see H5450
2. April 15, 2026: Hearing rescheduled to 04/15/2026 from 01:00 PM-01:35 PM in A-1 and Virtual<br> <span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;">Hearing updated to New End Time</span>
3. April 2, 2026: Hearing scheduled for 04/15/2026 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1
4. February 19, 2026: Senate concurred
5. February 17, 2026: Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure
6. January 27, 2026: Referred to the committee on House Rules

Common questions

What is H5138?

H5138 is a bill in the Massachusetts Legislature (194th General Court): An Act relative to consumer protections for low valued legal tender scarcity.

What is the status of H5138?

In committee as of May 26, 2026. Latest action: Accompanied a new draft, see H5450 (May 26, 2026).

Who sponsored H5138?

Tackey Chan (D, 2nd Norfolk), with 6 co-sponsors.

Where is the official record for H5138?

On the Massachusetts Legislature website: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5138