This bill would add a new section to chapter 19.200 RCW to allow businesses whose fees or charges are regulated in Washington state to impose a transaction fee for processing a credit card payment, subject to conditions. It is a new statutory authorization (a change in financial/fee procedure), not a criminal or penalty change. The fee would be capped at three percent of the payment amount. The bill defines "credit card payment" as any payment made by a payment card that incurs an interchange fee, regardless of the type of payment card used. The authorization is conditional: a no-cost payment option must always be available to the consumer, and that no-cost option must be disclosed to the consumer at the same time and in the same manner as the consumer's credit card information is collected. Legislative findings reference financial burdens on registered tow truck operators and note that Washington state and some unregulated businesses charge convenience or transaction fees; the findings cite RCW 46.01.235 and the Department of Licensing's prior authority to charge transaction fees. The bill explicitly affects regulated businesses, registered tow truck operators, and consumers who pay those businesses. Administrative history shows it was read the first time on 01/20/25 and referred to the Committee on Business, Financial Services & Trade. The text provided does not state an effective date, enforcement mechanisms or penalties, administrative procedures for implementing the fee, which specific regulated industries are covered, or what is meant precisely by "the same manner" for the required disclosure.

If enacted, businesses whose fees are regulated in Washington could start adding a transaction fee of up to three percent to payments made with cards that incur interchange fees, as long as they always offer a no-cost payment option and disclose that option at the same time and in the same manner they take the card information. Consumers paying those regulated businesses may face new out-of-pocket charges unless they choose the disclosed no-cost option, and businesses can recover some or all of their card processing costs through the fee. Registered tow truck operators (explicitly mentioned) and other regulated businesses are most affected: they would gain the option to pass processing costs to customers but must change payment practices to keep a no-cost alternative available and to meet the disclosure requirement. The text does not clarify which regulated industries are included, what “same manner” of disclosure means, when the change would take effect, or how compliance and enforcement would be handled, so those implementation details and any penalty risks remain uncertain.