A Republican bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
In the other chamber's committee
Passed one chamber and has been handed to a committee in the other.
The committee decides whether it goes any further, and most bills that reach a committee never leave it. A committee that simply does nothing kills a bill without anyone ever voting against it, so no news from here is usually the news.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- Passed House voice vote
- In Senate committee
The House by voice vote (members called out yes or no together): no member's position on it was recorded.
What this bill would do
The "Common Cents Act" directs the Secretary of the Treasury to stop producing one-cent coins for general circulation while allowing their continued production for numismatic items. It authorizes the rounding of cash transactions to the nearest five cents when exact change cannot be provided. The bill also allows for changes to the composition of 5-cent coins to reduce production costs. Additionally, it establishes rules for rounding cash payments made by employers to employees. Finally, the Federal Reserve is required to create a strategic plan and submit various reports regarding the stability of the coin distribution system.
Yes· 3 of 8
- Scored +2
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill specifically tasks the Secretary of the Treasury to assess the impact of rounding practices on older consumers.
- Scored +2
Would retired people be better off under this?
The bill includes protections and assessments regarding the impact of rounding on older consumers.
- Scored +2
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill provides explicit rules for rounding in favor of customers during cash transactions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reduction in Coin Production Costs: The Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe a new composition for 5-cent coins to reduce the costs incurred to produce them (Section 2).
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Flexibility in Cash Transactions: People conducting cash transactions can round amounts to the nearest five cents if exact change is unavailable (Section 3).
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Favorable Rounding for Customers: When a person is paying a financial institution or another person in cash, the amount may be rounded in favor of the customer (Section 3).
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Protection for Employee Cash Payments: If an employer chooses to round a cash payment to an employee that is not divisible by 5 cents, they must round the amount up (Section s3).
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Legal Tender Assurance: Any one-cent coins minted and issued before the enactment of this Act will remain legal tender for all debts, taxes, and dues (Section 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Potential Disruptions to Coin Supply: The bill notes the need for a plan to address potential disruptions in the penny supply and the stability of the coin distribution system (Section 5).
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Impact on Vulnerable Populations: The Secretary of the Treasury is tasked with assessing how penny supply disruptions and rounding practices might impact low-income communities, older consumers, and unbanked or underbanked individuals (Section 5).
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Machine Compatibility Concerns: The bill acknowledges the need to ensure that changes to the 5-cent coin composition have a minimal adverse impact on machines designed to accept coins (Section 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill includes protections and assessments regarding the impact of rounding on older consumers. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill specifically tasks the Secretary of the Treasury to assess the impact of rounding practices on older consumers. Would business owners be better off under this? — The bill simplifies cash transactions by removing the need for one-cent coins. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill mandates assessments on how changes to the penny supply impact low-income communities. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Rounding rules provide predictability and convenience in cash transactions for everyday consumers.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill provides explicit rules for rounding in favor of customers during cash transactions. Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill improves efficiency by reducing the costs associated with producing and distributing the least used denomination. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill reduces production costs for the Treasury by ceasing the minting of pennies and adjusting nickel composition.
- 7/15/2026
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- 7/14/2026
- The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4433-4434)
- DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3074.
- Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4432-4438)
- Mr. Hill (AR) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 9/4/2025
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Financial Services. H. Rept. 119-235.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 192.
- 7/23/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 35 - 13.
- 7/22/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 4/29/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Robert GarciaDemocrat · California