California’s idiotic legislators

In California, it is illegal for businesses to charge  a fee to use a credit card (but of course governments are exempt), but it is legal to offer a discount for payment by any other means. California Civil Code Section 1748.1 states:

(a) No retailer in any sales, service, or lease transaction
with a consumer may impose a surcharge on a cardholder who elects to
use a credit card in lieu of payment by cash, check, or similar
means. A retailer may, however, offer discounts for the purpose of
inducing payment by cash, check, or other means not involving the use
of a credit card, provided that the discount is offered to all
prospective buyers.

What the heck is the difference between the surcharge on credit cards and a discount on other means of payment? Why can’t legislators write laws that make sense???