HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania schools will now be required to accept cash payments for entry to all school-sponsored events, thanks to new legislation championed by state Rep. Dan Moul (R-Adams) and signed into law as part of the 2025 state budget.
House Bill 685, now law, mandates that public and private schools, as well as associations like the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA), must accept cash for admission to activities such as athletic events, concerts, graduations, and class trips. The law also allows schools to continue accepting digital payments but prohibits them from going cashless.
Moul introduced the measure in response to a growing trend of schools and organizations requiring electronic ticket purchases — a policy that, he argued, disenfranchised seniors, low-income residents, and those without access to smartphones or credit cards. “This legislation gives people a powerful way to fight back,” Moul said, noting that many older Pennsylvanians were being excluded from attending their grandchildren’s sporting events due to cashless policies.
Under the new rules, schools can still refuse large-denomination bills but must accept all legal U.S. currency for admission fees. The law took effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.
The PIAA, which had previously required digital-only ticket sales, reversed its policy earlier this year after the bill gained bipartisan traction in Harrisburg.
The change marks a significant win for accessibility and privacy advocates, who have raised concerns about data collection and digital barriers in public venues.
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