Common Cents Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (14 Oct 2026): Message on Senate action sent to the House.
What this bill does
The Common Cents Act would direct the Treasury Department to stop producing one-cent coins for general circulation, though pennies already in circulation would remain legal tender and the Mint could still make pennies as collectible items. The bill also allows the composition and weight of the 5-cent coin to be adjusted to reduce production costs. To accommodate the end of penny production, the bill permits cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest 5 cents—rounding down for totals ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents, and up for totals ending in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents—while giving customers the benefit of rounding in employer cash payments and certain other transactions. Rounding is optional, not mandatory, and does not apply to noncash payment methods such as checks or cards.
The bill primarily affects businesses handling cash sales, financial institutions, employers who pay employees in cash, and consumers who use cash. It shields businesses from federal, state, or tribal penalties for following the rounding rules, while making clear that minimum wage, overtime, and paid leave laws still apply. It also requires the Federal Reserve and Treasury to study and report on penny supply, coin-terminal operations, and effects of rounding on low-income, elderly, unbanked, or underbanked consumers, and sets new notice-and-briefing requirements before Treasury can discontinue minting any other circulating coin.
The bill passed the House by voice vote on September 14, 2026, and now goes to the Senate for consideration. It would need Senate passage and the President’s signature to become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Common Cents Act
This bill ends the production of the penny for general circulation, requires rounding to an amount divisible by five for the payment or transfer of cash, and allows the nickel to be composed of different material.
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 also allows Treasury to discontinue the minting for circulation of any coin if Treasury follows procedures as outlined by the bill, including providing notice and a briefing to Congress.
The Federal Reserve Board must periodically report on a strategic plan for the acceptance of penny orders and deposits at commercial coin terminals that provide services under agreements with Federal Reserve banks.
Finally, the bill allows for a different material composition of the nickel. In addition to being made from an alloy of copper and nickel, the nickel may also be clad with an inner core of zinc and an outer layer of nickel.
Timeline
14 Oct 2026
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 10167 do?
- The Common Cents Act would direct the Treasury Department to stop producing one-cent coins for general circulation, though pennies already in circulation would remain legal tender and the Mint could still make pennies as collectible items. The bill also allows the composition and weight of the 5-cent coin to be adjusted to reduce production costs. To accommodate the end of penny production, the bill permits cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest 5 cents—rounding down for totals ending in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents, and up for totals ending in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents—while giving customers the benefit of rounding in employer cash payments and certain other transactions. Rounding is optional, not mandatory, and does not apply to noncash payment methods such as checks or cards. The bill primarily affects businesses handling cash sales, financial institutions, employers who pay employees in cash, and consumers who use cash. It shields businesses from federal, state, or tribal penalties for following the rounding rules, while making clear that minimum wage, overtime, and paid leave laws still apply. It also requires the Federal Reserve and Treasury to study and report on penny supply, coin-terminal operations, and effects of rounding on low-income, elderly, unbanked, or underbanked consumers, and sets new notice-and-briefing requirements before Treasury can discontinue minting any other circulating coin. The bill passed the House by voice vote on September 14, 2026, and now goes to the Senate for consideration. It would need Senate passage and the President’s signature to become law.
- Has H.R. 10167 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 10167. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 10167?
- H.R. 10167 was sponsored by Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-9] (R-MI), with 1 cosponsor.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 10167?
- Message on Senate action sent to the House. (14 Oct 2026).
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