The Common Cents Act
The bipartisan bill to codify the end of penny production — now passed by the House under fast-track rules, with cash rounding restored as an opt-in scheme, and headed to the Senate
About
Current Status — July 2026
Production: Ended November 12, 2025 via Treasury executive action [Source]
Legislation: H.R.3074 passed committee (35-13) in July 2025, and passed the full House by voice vote under suspension of the rules on July 14, 2026 — now heading to the Senate. The substitute that passed restores cash rounding as a permissive, opt-in scheme. S.1525 remains in Senate committee without a hearing.
Legal Status: Neither bill has been enacted. No federal rounding mandate exists — rounding rules are being set state by state: 20 state laws enacted so far. See the State Tracker.
What is the Common Cents Act?
The Common Cents Act (S.1525 and H.R.3074) is bipartisan federal legislation introduced in April 2025. As introduced, it would codify the Treasury Department's November 2025 decision to stop producing pennies and establish formal rounding rules for cash transactions. The version the House committee approved in July 2025 removed the rounding provisions, but the substitute the House passed on July 14, 2026 restores rounding as a permissive, opt-in scheme — changing the bill's title from “require” to “permit” — and adds Federal Reserve reporting requirements on penny supply. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Learn more about why this legislation matters, including the economic and environmental case for eliminating penny production.
Key Provisions
What the bill covers — and how committee changes narrowed it
This bill has moved through several versions. As introduced (April 2025), the Act required cash rounding. The version the House committee approved in July 2025 kept the penny-elimination provisions but removed the cash-rounding rules (and added authority over 5-cent coin composition). The substitute the House passed on July 14, 2026 restores rounding — but as a permissive, opt-in scheme, retitling the bill from “require” to “permit” and adding Federal Reserve reporting requirements. The bill now heads to the Senate. Track state rounding laws →
Codify Production Cessation
Formally authorize the Treasury Department's decision to stop minting pennies for general circulation (already implemented November 2025)
Cash Rounding
As introduced: require cash transactions to round to the nearest 5¢ using symmetric rules. Removed by the House committee, then restored as an opt-in option — not a mandate — in the substitute the House passed on July 14, 2026. Today, rounding is still governed by state law and non-binding Treasury guidance
Legal Tender Status
Confirm that existing pennies remain legal tender indefinitely—over 100 billion pennies stay in circulation
Digital Transactions Exempt
As introduced: electronic payments (cards, apps, checks) keep exact cent amounts — only cash would round. This matches how every state rounding law works today
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