Editorial: Oregon tries to solve its penny problem

Published 9:34 am Monday, March 2, 2026

We can’t say we miss pennies, but have you tried to buy something with cash lately? Not having pennies around can cause problems.

The U.S. Treasury stopped making pennies in November. It didn’t make much sense to continue the cent. It costs more than 3 cents to make one penny.

But no national policy was put in place for transactions carried out in cash when pennies are no longer available and the price doesn’t end in five or zero. Retailers are having penny pangs.

The federal Common Cents Act, which would put a national policy in place for rounding prices to the nearest nickel, stalled in Congress.

The Oregon Legislature is trying a legislative fix of its own. House Bill 4178 would basically allow retailers and public entities to round.

“If the final digit of the total amount due ends in one cent, two cents, six cents or seven cents, the final digit shall be rounded down to the nearest amount divisible by five cents; … If the final digit of the total amount due ends in three cents, four cents, eight cents or nine cents, the final digit shall be rounded up to the nearest amount divisible by five cents; … or If the final digit of the total amount due ends in zero cents or five cents, the final digit may not be rounded up or down,” the bill says.

Overall, the bill is not particularly controversial and has been getting support from Republicans and Democrats.

But there are other bills in the Oregon Legislature that are more controversial.

There’s no guarantee the Legislature — with its episodes of walkouts and protests — will pass the bill. It should.

Penny for your thoughts?