1997 HEB Receipt Reveals Shocking Price Increase
After Zoe Dippel found a 1997 HEB receipt for 122 items totaling $155, she decided to compare current grocery prices to prices in the 1990s.
In some states, “15 or fewer items” is no joke.
In an effort to curb shoplifting, lawmakers in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington are debating tighter regulations for self-checkout systems at grocery and convenience stores.
Specifically, these states are considering enacting legislation that would mandate a balance between employee-staffed and self-checkout registers, a certain number of employees per self-checkout, and/or strict limits on the number and types of items that customers can bring to a self-checkout. the goal? Reduce the number of sticky fingers.
Self-checkout systems have been a hot topic in recent years, with some retailers phasing out all employee checkouts and others, like Walmart, removing many self-checkouts in a back-to-basics move.
A 2026 Capital One Shopping Research study found that while 86% of consumers use self-checkout, there is up to a 65% increase in theft compared to staffed self-checkout. According to research, more than 36 million Americans have reported theft from self-checkout kiosks.
While self-checkout continues to be part of the shopping conversation, here’s a look at the laws being debated across the country.
Which states have passed self-checkout laws?
As of April 22, no state has passed legislation related to self-checkout.
What self-checkout bills are states trying to pass?
Here’s a closer look at the bills state and local governments are trying to pass and have passed regarding self-checkout.
California
In February, California State Senator Laura Smallwood-Cuevas introduced SB 442. If passed, the bill would require retailers that implement self-checkout to have at least one manual checkout station with an employee available at all times to assist customers at the self-checkout station. The bill would also establish a policy that would limit purchases at self-checkout to no more than 15 items. SB 442 was last amended on April 21, but Smallwood-Cuevas is no longer moving it forward, her office told USA TODAY on April 22.
While regulations may not be mandated at the state level, some California municipalities have enacted their own self-checkout ordinances.
The cities of Long Beach and Costa Mesa have both approved ordinances similar to the SB 442 proposal, requiring retailers to install at least one manual checkout station staffed by employees who can assist other customers. Ordinances were passed in Long Beach in August 2025 and in Costa Mesa in February.
connecticut
In Connecticut, three legislators have introduced SB 438, which, if passed, would require grocery stores with self-checkout systems to install one staffed cash register for every two self-checkout machines. The bill would also prohibit grocery stores from operating more than eight self-checkout stations at one time.
The bill was referred to a Senate committee on April 15. USA TODAY contacted the bill’s co-sponsors for more information.
Massachusetts
Similar to the Connecticut bill, Massachusetts Sen. Paul R. Feeney introduced S.237 in early 2025. If passed, the bill would prohibit grocery stores from operating more than eight self-checkout stations at one time. Stores will also be required to have one employee-operated manual checkout station for every two self-checkout stations.
According to the MA Parliament website, the bill was last reported to a Senate committee in December 2025. USA TODAY reached out to Feeney for more information.
new york
New York state has not passed any self-checkout legislation, but the New York City Council is debating the issue.
Earlier this year, New York City Council member Amanda Farias introduced an amendment to a city ordinance that would require pharmacies and food retailers to charge up to 15 items at self-checkout. The regulations would also require stores to have one employee for every three self-checkouts.
This amendment was last discussed in March. USA TODAY reached out to Farias for more information.
ohio
On April 1, Ohio State Senator Thomas F. Patton introduced SB 415. If passed, the bill would require grocery stores with self-checkouts to operate at least one staffed checkout, one employee for every three self-checkout stations, and limit purchases to 15 items at self-checkout.
SB 415 would also ban the sale of alcohol, tobacco, and items equipped with anti-theft devices at self-checkout counters.
The bill was referred to a Senate committee on April 15. USA TODAY has contacted Patton’s office for more information.
rhode island
According to the proposal, Rep. Megan Cotter of Rhode Island filed H7290 in January. If passed, the bill would prohibit grocery stores from operating more than eight self-checkouts at a time and require the same store to operate one manual checkout station for every two self-checkouts. The bill would also require one employee to be assigned to monitor every two self-checkout machines.
washington
In Washington, HB 1739 was first introduced in 2025 and then again this year. If passed, the bill would require retailers to have a policy of allowing no more than 15 items at self-checkout. Retailers must also have one employee-manned checkout for each self-checkout and no more than two self-checkout stations supervised by one employee at a time.
The bill was last introduced in the House in January, according to the Washington State Legislature’s website. USA TODAY contacted the bill’s sponsor for more information.
Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
