NGA Applauds Senate Passage of Common Cents Act 

Washington, D.C. – The National Grocers Association, the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, today applauded the Senate for passing the bipartisan Common Cents Act, legislation that provides retailers with clear legal authority and protections to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel after the end of penny production in 2025. The Senate’s passage of the bill follows a year of ongoing advocacy by NGA’s Government Affairs team. 

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Lummis (WY) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), establishes a national framework for allowing businesses to continue serving customers efficiently and fairly as pennies fall out of circulation. 

Following the end of penny production in 2025, retailers across the country began experiencing shortages of pennies needed to make exact change. Without a uniform federal framework, businesses have faced uncertainty over how to manage cash transactions while continuing to serve customers fairly and efficiently. 

“Independent grocers process millions of transactions every day, and the disappearance of the penny created a very practical problem at the checkout counter,” said Stephanie Johnson, NGA senior vice president and head of government affairs. “The Common Cents Act provides the clarity retailers need to handle cash transactions consistently and fairly. We appreciate the bipartisan leadership in the Senate to advance a commonsense solution that gives businesses clear rules and helps minimize confusion for consumers.” 

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