SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Willie Preston is leading a new measure to require grocery stores that offer digital coupons to have matching paper coupons available for shoppers.

“Not everyone knows how to – or wants to – use a digital coupon,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “We are working to make it so people affected, often older adults, can still use paper coupons and are not excluded from savings.”

Under the measure, if a store offers digital coupons, it must also offer paper coupons at the service desk for customers to use if they prefer. The coupons would need to be available in other locations around the store as well.

According to Pew Research, 25% of older adults do not have access to the internet, and 39% do not have a smartphone. Additionally, Consumer World looked at 50 supermarket chains nationwide and reported that two-thirds of those have digital-only deals.

“This measure further improves accessibility for low-income customers who do not have access to digital coupons, preventing digital discrimination against shoppers without smartphones or internet access,” Preston said. “Why should they miss out on offers simply because they do not have internet access?”

Senate Bill 2737 is expected to be heard in the Senate Consumer Protection Committee in the coming weeks.