Per Act 751, which was approved during the 2026 Regular Legislative Session, businesses will no longer be able to charge additional fees when payment is made by debit card. The new Louisiana law went into effect on August 1st. Businesses may still offer cash discounts, and the law does not prevent merchants from charging lawful fees on credit card transactions where permitted.

The legislation was passed to help protect consumers from unexpected checkout fees and to ensure customers are not penalized for using money directly from their bank accounts. The law applies whether the purchase is made in person or online.

Louisiana residents who notice a debit card surcharge after Aug. 1 are encouraged to bring it to the business’s attention. Consumers who believe a merchant is violating the law may also file a complaint with the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office.