Common Cents Act

Lisa C. McClain

Republican · MI · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Robert Garcia (D-CA-42)Original· 2025-04-29

The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

2026-07-14

Source: Congress.gov

Common Cents Act This bill generally ends the production of the penny and requires rounding to the nearest amount divisible by five for the payment or transfer of cash. The Department of the Treasury must stop producing the penny, except to meet collector needs. The penny shall continue to be legal tender. Any person selling goods or services in a cash transaction, entering into other transfers of cash, or paying cash wages to an employee must round the payment up or down in accordance with the bill. The bill takes effect one year after the date of enactment.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 3074 Reported in House (RH)] <DOC> Union Calendar No. 192 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3074 [Report No. 119-235] To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 29, 2025 Mrs. McClain (for herself and Mr. Garcia of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services September 4, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on April 29, 2025] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Common Cents Act''. SEC. 2. SPECIFICATIONS OF 5-CENT COINS AND ELIMINATION OF ONE-CENT COINS. Section 5112 of title 31, United States Code, is amended-- (1) in subsection (a)-- (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``weighs 5 grams.'' and inserting the following: ``weighs-- ``(A) 5 grams, with respect to such coin that is an alloy of copper and nickel; or ``(B) between 4 and 6 grams, with respect to such coin as described in subsection (c).''; and (B) in paragraph (6)-- (i) by striking ``except as provided under subsection (c) of this section,''; and (ii) by striking ``and weighs 3.11 grams''; (2) in subsection (b)-- (A) in the sixth sentence-- (i) by inserting ``either'' before ``an alloy''; and (ii) by inserting ``or a composition described in subsection (c)'' before the period; (B) by inserting ``with respect to such coins that are an alloy of copper and nickel'' after ``nickel required''; and (C) by striking ``Except'' through ``zinc'' and inserting ``The one-cent coin is composed of copper and zinc''; (3) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows: ``(c) 5-cent Coin.-- ``(1) In general.--The 5-cent coin may be a coin with an inner layer of zinc and an outer layer of nickel. ``(2) Composition.--The Secretary may prescribe the composition of zinc and nickel in the 5-cent coin, subject to testing and evaluation that such composition reduces the cost incurred to produce such coin.''; and (4) by adding at the end the following: ``(bb) Elimination of One-cent Coin.-- ``(1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall cease production of one-cent coins for general circulation, but may continue to produce and issue one- cent coins for sale as numismatic items. ``(2) No effect on legal tender.--Any one-cent coin that is minted and issued on any date before the date of the enactment of this subsection shall remain legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes, and dues.''. Union Calendar No. 192 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3074 [Report No. 119-235] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Treasury to stop minting the penny, to require cash transactions to be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ September 4, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered…

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