Make Sense Not Cents Act and the Common

Service Description

Join us on our panel and earn CLE credit while engaging in a live, real-time discussion on the legal, economic, and regulatory implications of rounding practices and the future of the penny. Share your perspective by calling in or submitting comments through our social channels—your input becomes part of the conversation shaping policy and accountability. The push to eliminate the penny and normalize rounding practices sits at the intersection of federal authority and economic pressure: while 31 U.S. Code § 5112 still defines the one-cent coin as lawful U.S. currency, proposed legislation such as the Make Sense Not Cents Act and the Common Cents Act seeks to halt its production and authorize rounding of cash transactions to the nearest five cents, championed by lawmakers including Mike Lee and Jeff Merkley. Behind the scenes, lobbying forces are sharply divided Americans for Common Cents, backed by zinc industry stakeholders, argues that eliminating the penny harms consumers through price inflation, while retail and payment coalitions advocate for rounding to reduce operational inefficiencies and costs. With no final act of Congress resolving the issue, businesses are moving ahead unevenly, raising critical legal and economic questions about pricing integrity, consumer protection, and who ultimately benefits leaving a national debate that is far from settled and demands closer scrutiny.