The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the bipartisan Common Cents Act on Monday, advancing legislation to permanently eliminate the production of the one-cent coin and establish a national standard for rounding cash transactions to the nearest five cents.
The bill, which now moves to the Senate for consideration, would prohibit the U.S. Mint from minting new pennies, except for collector editions, and require cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest nickel when exact change cannot be provided. Transactions ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents would be rounded down, while those ending in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents would be rounded up. An exception would apply to cash wages, which must be rounded upward if the total is not divisible by five cents.
Existing pennies would remain legal tender, and the U.S. Mint halted penny production in November 2025 after 232 years of circulation. The legislation aims to prevent future administrations from reversing the decision. The Treasury estimated the move would save $56 million annually in production costs, as minting pennies now costs more than three times their face value.
The bill was co-led by Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., with McClain previously introducing similar legislation in the House that passed the Senate but lacked rounding provisions. The new bill also includes a provision allowing the U.S. Mint to produce nickels using cheaper materials.
Supporters of the legislation argue the change would reduce production costs and simplify cash transactions, while critics have raised concerns about potential impacts on consumers and businesses. The bill’s passage reflects growing bipartisan consensus on the need to address the declining utility and rising cost of the penny.
The House vote follows years of debate over the penny’s economic viability, with advocates pointing to the $56 million annual savings projected by the Treasury and opponents highlighting the cultural and practical role of the coin in everyday transactions.