Bill would end penny production and round cash sales to nearest nickel

Q: What does it cost, and who pays?

The Mint and Treasury would save money by no longer producing pennies, since each penny currently costs more to make than its face value.

Passed one chamberS. 1525Latest action Aug 10, 2026

Sponsor: Cynthia M. Lummis · Senator · WY

AIDecoded by AI · checked against the record

Part of a bigger question: Penny production and cash rounding

Read the official text

Official title: Common Cents Act

119th Congress

Topics: Jobs & the economy

Introduced: April 30, 2025

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

In plain words

The plain-language version comes first. The official text is always the reference.

The Common Cents Act would stop new penny production and require cash purchases to round to the nearest five cents.

40-second read · 5 questions answered below

What does this do?

The bill would halt U.S. Mint production of new pennies one year after enactment, except limited collector coins sold to cover their own cost. Starting the same year, cash transaction totals would round to the nearest five cents, while card, check, and electronic payments stay exact.

Who does it affect?

This affects cash-paying shoppers, retailers, vending machine operators, and employers paying cash wages, plus the U.S. Mint, Treasury Department, and coin collectors.

Why does it matter?

Businesses and consumers using cash would need to adjust pricing and payment systems to the new rounding rule, while existing pennies remain legal tender.

What does it cost, and who pays?

Ends penny production after one year
Mint saves on production costs
Pennies cost more than face value

AI-drafted summary. Check it against the official text before you act on it.

Read the official bill on Congress.gov

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Where does it stand?

IntroducedApr 30, 2025
Senate committee
Senate vote
HouseYou are here · Aug 10, 2026
The president's desk

Right now: it passed the Senate, and the official record shows nothing new since. If the House changes it, it goes back to the Senate before reaching the president.

Latest action: August 10, 2026 — Held at the desk.

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How it's being covered

Coverage of this bill from across the press. Each outlet's political lean is labeled where AllSides has rated it, and marked "Not rated" where it has not.

Newest of these articles: Oct 7, 2026

Coverage of this bill so far comes from one side of the spectrum. Read it with that in mind.

foxnews.com
Leans right
Congress killed the penny — now it's coming for the 13-cent nickel
Oct 7, 2026
“Congress wants the Treasury Department to study cheaper nickel coin production after passing the Common Cents Act to eliminate the penny from the U.S. Mint.” — foxnews.com
fastcompany.com
Not rated
The penny is making a comeback. Just don’t try to spend it
Oct 2, 2026
“A bipartisan bill that formally calls on the Treasury Department to stop minting pennies includes a provision for commemorative 1-cent coins.” — fastcompany.com
retaildive.com
Not rated
Senate passes Common Cents bill
Sep 30, 2026
“The measure to provide merchants a cash rounding framework and to formally phase out the penny now heads to the White House.” — retaildive.com
manilatimes.net
Center
US Congress votes to end production of the penny after 234 years, sending a bill to Trump
Sep 30, 2026
“WASHINGTON, D.C. — The US Mint stopped making pennies in 2025, but legislation passed by the Senate and headed to President Donald Trump’s desk will formall...” — manilatimes.net
americanbanker.com
Not rated
Senate sends penny bill supported by banks to Trump's desk
Sep 29, 2026
“The legislation would let merchants, as well as banks and credit unions, round cash transactions to the nearest nickel, part of the administration's effort to d...” — americanbanker.com

Lean labels describe the news outlet, not this bill or any party. Ratings by AllSides.