The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to permanently cease the minting of pennies, except for collector coins, and to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel. The bipartisan Common Cents Act passed the chamber unanimously on Monday, aiming to eliminate the one-cent coin from circulation.
Under the proposed legislation, cash transactions would be rounded to the nearest five cents. An exception would be made for cash wages, which would be rounded upwards if the total is not divisible by five cents. Existing pennies would remain legal tender.
The U.S. Mint stopped producing pennies in November 2025, after 232 years. The bill, if signed into law, would codify this decision and prevent future administrations from reversing course. The cost of minting pennies had risen dramatically, reportedly costing more than three times their value to produce as of 2025. The Treasury estimated an immediate annual savings of $56 million.
The bill was led by House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. This legislation builds upon a previous bill led by McClain that also passed the Senate and directed the federal government to stop minting the penny, but it did not include provisions for rounding cash payments.
An additional provision in the Common Cents Act would permit the U.S. Mint to produce nickels using less expensive materials than currently utilized. Congress would also direct the Treasury to examine the impact of these changes on various consumer groups, including low-income individuals and older consumers, to monitor any potential disruptions.
