The Common Cents Act
Bipartisan legislation to codify penny production cessation and establish federal rounding rules
About
What is the Common Cents Act?
The Common Cents Act (S.1525 and H.R.3074) is pending bipartisan federal legislation introduced in April 2025. The bill would codify the Treasury Department's November 2025 decision to stop producing pennies and establish formal rounding rules for cash transactions.
Learn more about why this legislation matters, including the economic and environmental case for eliminating penny production.
Key Provisions
If enacted, the Common Cents Act would establish these requirements
Codify Production Cessation
Formally authorize the Treasury Department's decision to stop minting pennies for general circulation (already implemented November 2025)
Mandatory Cash Rounding
Require all cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest 5¢ using symmetric rounding rules (currently only non-binding guidance exists)
Legal Tender Status
Confirm that existing pennies remain legal tender indefinitely—over 100 billion pennies stay in circulation
Digital Transactions Exempt
Ensure electronic payments (cards, apps, checks) continue to use exact cent amounts—only cash transactions would round
Collector Exception
Allow U.S. Mint to continue producing pennies for numismatic sets and collectors at cost-covering prices
How Rounding Would Work
Proposed symmetric rounding system for cash transactions. See the rounding rules
Learn More
Dive deeper into the legislation and its potential impact