Pennies could soon start vanishing from Georgia cash registers. Lawmakers have approved House Bill 1112, a measure that would require businesses to round cash purchases to the nearest five cents if Gov. Brian Kemp signs off. The bill passed the House on March 6 and the Senate on March 25 and now sits on the governor’s desk. If enacted, the rule would apply only to cash payments, not to card or digital transactions, and would likely shrink the role of pennies at checkout counters across the state.
How the rounding would work
Under HB 1112, cash totals ending in 1, 2, 6 or 7 cents would be rounded down to the nearest nickel, while totals ending in 3, 4, 8 or 9 cents would be rounded up. Shoppers could still pay with exact legal-tender coins if they want to, but registers and cashiers would be allowed to round totals at the point of sale as a routine practice. Those details appear in local coverage and the bill summary, according to WSB-TV.
Why lawmakers moved now
The timing lines up with a federal move to wind down production of the penny. Reporting indicates the U.S. Mint and Treasury have worked to halt new one-cent coin production, with estimates that ending penny minting could save tens of millions of dollars. At the federal level, the proposed Common Cents Act would direct the Treasury to stop minting pennies and set national rounding rules, as outlined on Congress.gov and in national reporting from The Associated Press.
What it means for shoppers and businesses
Business groups say a clear rounding rule would help retailers and restaurants deal with spotty coin supplies and speed up the checkout process. The Georgia Restaurant Association has said HB 1112 “matches existing federal guidance” and would give operators a straightforward standard for making change. Legal summaries of the bill also note that gains or losses from rounding under the measure would not create state or local tax liabilities, according to JDSupra. Consumer advocates, meanwhile, have called for clear notices at the register so customers can see when rounding happens and are not quietly shorted over many small transactions.
Next steps and timing
The bill now awaits Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision, and the exact rollout schedule, along with any formal instructions on tax treatment or point-of-sale procedures, will depend on his action and subsequent state guidance. Legislative tracking for HB 1112 details the committee votes and final approval that carried the bill through both chambers, and businesses are being advised to keep an eye out for official direction from the governor’s office or the Georgia Department of Revenue. For the full bill record and status history, see the legislative tracker on FastDemocracy.
