May 31, 2026
Dear editor;
I work closely with business owners and leaders in Black and Brown communities across Illinois. If the Interchange Fee Prohibition Act takes effect on July 1, it won’t hurt only small businesses. It will affect whole communities.
This law would change how credit card payments work and could actually make paying more confusing. Instead of one quick payment, people might have to deal with extra steps or split payments at checkout, which can slow things down and cause confusion, especially when it is busy.
It could also make tipping harder, and people might be required to tip in cash instead. When tipping becomes less convenient, people usually tip less, which directly hurts workers who rely on those tips to get by.
On top of that, businesses might have to spend money updating their systems and training employees just to keep up.
In many neighborhoods, small businesses are more than just places to shop. They are the backbone of the community. These local restaurants, shops, salons, barbershops, and other neighborhood spots are where people work, where families spend their money, and where relationships are built.
Many of these businesses are there because owners chose to invest in their own neighborhoods when others wouldn’t. They create jobs and keep money local. But a lot of these businesses are already struggling. They have fewer resources, less access to money, and not much room for mistakes. This law would add even more pressure. When that happens, workers lose hours, businesses cut back, and less money stays in the neighborhood.
In areas that have already been overlooked for years, that matters. When a small business closes, it’s not easily replaced.
We should be helping these businesses, not making it harder for them to survive. Lawmakers should repeal this law and focus on solutions that support small businesses, help workers, and bring more investment into Black and Brown communities. Every community in Illinois deserves a fair chance to grow and succeed.
Terrie Simmons, founder & CEO, Strategic Exceptions Professional Consulting, Inc., Aurora