A coalition of more than 200 national and state associations representing Main Street businesses across the country is urging the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation about the penny.
Citing economic hardship and uncertainty, the group asked that lawmakers pass the Common Cents Act that would allow businesses to round to the nearest nickel for cash transactions when pennies are not available to make exactly change, and addresses continuity issues between the federal penny rounding solution and state, local and Tribal penny rounding laws.
Since the U.S. Mint stopped penny production in 2025, Main Street businesses have faced the consequences of pennies decreasing in circulation. Businesses have operated with uncertainty about how to handle cash transactions when exact change is unavailable and are losing money on cash transactions because of it, officials said. Without federal law, all of the potential options currently available risk legal challenges, on top of those financial losses.
“It is extremely important that the House pass S. 1525 so President Trump can sign it into law as quickly as possible,” the group wrote. “Main Street businesses are desperate for the federal solution under the Common Cents Act that enables them to round cash transactions when exact change is unavailable. Retailers are heading into yet another busy travel and shopping season in the fall, so it is more urgent than ever that this legislation is passed before adjourning at the end of September.”
The legislation, introduced by U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI), was passed in the House on July 14. A version of the bill also passed in the U.S. Senate on Aug. 7. The House must now consider the Senate-passed version before it can be signed into law.