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Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The Make Sense Not Cents Act would end the minting or issuance of 1-cent coins (pennies) by the U.S. Treasury. It would accomplish this by amending title 31 of the U.S. Code to remove the authority to produce 1-cent coins and to reindex or remove related references in several sections. The Internal Revenue Code would also be adjusted to reflect the change. Importantly, the bill preserves the legal tender status of existing 1-cent coins, meaning pennies already in circulation would remain legally acceptable for payments, debts, taxes, and other obligations. The act also includes a non-binding “sense of Congress” provision stating that Congress holds the sole authority to coin money.
Key Points
- 1Prohibits minting or issuing a 1-cent coin by the Secretary of the Treasury.
- 2Makes technical amendments to Title 31, United States Code to remove or re-index references to the 1-cent coin (affecting sections related to coinage and denominations).
- 3Adjusts related provisions in the Internal Revenue Code to remove references to the 1-cent denomination.
- 4Explicitly states that 1-cent coins remain legal tender for all debts, public and private, and for taxes and duties, regardless of when minted or issued.
- 5Includes a “Sense of Congress” that affirms Congress’s sole authority to coin money and regulate currency (non-binding guidance).
Impact Areas
Primary affected: U.S. Mint and Treasury operations (finances and coin production), and the broader market for coinage (merchants, banks, vending operators) that handle pennies.Secondary affected: The general public who currently uses pennies for transactions, pricing, and charitable giving; coin collectors and industries dependent on pennies.Additional impacts: Potential cost savings from ceasing production of pennies; possible changes in cash-handling practices and price presentation (though the bill does not mandate rounding or price changes). Since pennies would still be legal tender, existing pennies could continue to be used until they are worn out or removed from circulation through natural attrition.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 31, 2025