A state lawmaker in California on Tuesday rolled out legislation that would make California the first state to require businesses to offer electronic receipts to customers.
Democratic Assemblyman Phil Ting called it “common-sense legislation” during a news conference announcing the bill.
“We think it’s minimal cost,” Ting said. “And it’s putting the power back in consumers. If you want the paper, you can ask for it. But why force you to take the paper?”
Under the legislation, receipts would be sent electronically to customers unless they were to request a paper receipt.
Ting also said the legislation would have environmental benefits because paper receipts have Bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical Ting said is harmful to the environment.
Republican Assemblyman Brian Dahle told The Associated Press that he’s worried Ting’s bill could adversely affect small businesses and that it may not save that much paper.
“Then they have your email, then they’ll be marketing to you or selling your information or it can get into privacy issues,” Dahle argued.