A bill that would mandate public colleges and universities to accept cash at events is moving forward in the Louisiana Legislature. The House Education Committee advanced House Bill 5 by Rep. Charles Owen, R-Rosepine, with a vote of 11-2. This bill aims to eliminate the practice of cashless concession stands at college football stadiums, which has caused inconvenience for some attendees, especially teenagers and older fans who typically rely on cash in their daily lives.
Families often have to save up a significant amount of money to attend events like ballgames or concerts, but when they arrive, they may face challenges in purchasing items like water, food, or merchandise as cash is not accepted. Some universities have expressed concerns about the bill, but lobbyist Lenny Kopowski representing the University of New Orleans Foundation stated that UNO is against the bill. UNO athletics went cashless after experiencing a theft of $3,600 from the athletic department. Kopowski mentioned that UNO may reconsider their opposition if the bill allows for certain concession stands to accept cash or if it mandates the presence of reverse ATMs where individuals can deposit cash and receive a temporary debit card.
According to a fiscal note from LSU, the bill could potentially result in a $75,000 annual revenue loss for its third-party game day vendors and cause delays in concession lines. The next step for Owen’s bill is to be discussed by the full House of Representatives.
