Government

NY proposal would require self-checkout discounts

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July 7, 2026

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A New York state lawmaker has proposed requiring retailers and supermarkets to give customers a 10% discount when they use self-checkout kiosks, according to a Post-Journal report.

Assemblywoman Nikki Lucas, D-Brooklyn, introduced the bill late in the legislative session, arguing shoppers should share in the labor savings retailers gain when customers scan, bag and process their own purchases. The measure remained in committee when the session ended.

Lucas said self-checkout shifts responsibilities traditionally handled by store employees onto consumers while reducing retailers' staffing and operating costs. Her proposal would require businesses using self-checkout technology to pass some of those savings on to customers as compensation for performing part of the checkout process.

The proposal reflects a broader national debate over self-checkout regulation. Lawmakers in states including California, Connecticut, Ohio and Rhode Island have introduced measures focused on limiting the number of self-checkout lanes, capping the number of items customers can purchase and requiring additional employee supervision to reduce theft.