US Senate Passes Cash-Rounding Bill as Pennies Dwindle

The US Treasury ended production of the circulating penny on Nov. 12, 2025, after President Donald Trump directed officials to stop making a coin that cost more than its face value. The US Mint said each penny cost 3.69 cents to produce in 2024, with the shutdown expected to save about $56 million annually. The resulting shortage has complicated change-making for retailers and exposed businesses to legal risk, increasing pressure for a uniform federal rule rather than a state-by-state patchwork.

The Senate passed the Common Cents Act, S. 1525, with a substitute amendment by unanimous consent on Aug. 7, 2026, after discharging it from the Senate Banking Committee. The measure establishes a federal framework for rounding cash transaction totals to the nearest five cents while leaving electronic payments unchanged. A related House bill, H.R. 3074, cleared that chamber by voice vote on July 14. Lawmakers must reconcile the two texts before legislation can be sent to Trump for his signature.