Bill would end penny production and require cash rounding to nickel

Passed one chamberH.R. 3074Latest action Jul 15, 2026

Sponsor: Lisa C. McClain · Representative · MI

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 29, 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 round cash purchases to the nearest five cents.

40-second read · 4 questions answered below

What does this do?

The Common Cents Act would direct the Treasury to stop making new pennies within one year of passage, though existing pennies would remain legal tender. Cash transactions would be rounded to the nearest five cents using set rounding rules, while card, check, and electronic payments would be unaffected. The Treasury could still produce limited collector pennies if sales cover production costs.

Who does it affect?

Cash-based businesses like retail stores, restaurants, and vending machine operators would need to adjust pricing and payment practices, as would employers who pay wages in cash. Consumers using credit cards, debit cards, or digital payments would see no change.

Why does it matter?

The change is intended to reduce coin production costs, since pennies currently cost more to make than their 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 29, 2025
House committee
House vote
SenateYou are here · Jul 15, 2026
The president's desk

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

Latest action: July 15, 2026 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

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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.