Georgia Passes Bill to Eliminate Pennies

New law allows merchants to round bills to nearest nickel as US Mint stops producing copper coins.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:34pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping, fractured shapes and patterns in shades of brown, orange, and copper, conceptually representing the changing role of pennies in the modern economy.The Georgia legislature's move to eliminate pennies reflects the broader shift away from physical currency and the need to adapt payment systems to a more digital economy.Atlanta Today

The Georgia General Assembly has passed a bill that will allow merchants in the state to round customer bills up or down to the nearest nickel, effectively eliminating the use of pennies. This comes as the US government has announced it will no longer be producing copper pennies, which could lead to their scarcity. The bill was supported by business owners like Adam Williams, who says most of his transactions are already electronic and the change will have little impact on his Ansley Wine Merchant store.

Why it matters

The elimination of the penny has been a topic of debate for years, with arguments that the coin is no longer cost-effective to produce. This new Georgia law aims to make transactions simpler for both merchants and consumers as the US Mint phases out penny production.

The details

The bill passed as part of a flurry of legislation during the final hours of Georgia's 2026 legislative session. In addition to the penny measure, lawmakers also passed bills requiring insurance to cover ambulance rides, cutting the state income tax rate, and failing to agree on property tax reform.

  • The Georgia General Assembly passed the penny elimination bill in the early morning hours of April 3, 2026, on the final day of the legislative session.
  • The US government previously announced it would stop producing pennies, which could lead to their scarcity in the coming years.

The players

Adam Williams

Owner of the Ansley Wine Merchant store in Atlanta, who says most of his transactions are already electronic and the penny elimination will have little impact on his business.

Jon Burns

Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives, who expressed disappointment that property tax reform efforts failed to pass during the legislative session.

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What they’re saying

“'I don't know where they're going to go. I mean, there are millions of them, right,'”

— Adam Williams, Ansley Wine Merchant owner

“'I believe the policy that we offered up, that we passed and sent to the Senate, would have done meaningful reform for the taxpayers in this state, and we're just sorry that we didn't get across things fine,'”

— Jon Burns, Georgia House Speaker

What’s next

The new penny elimination law will go into effect on July 1, 2026, giving merchants time to prepare for the change.

The takeaway

The elimination of the penny in Georgia reflects a broader national trend as the US Mint phases out production of the copper coin. While some may lament the loss of the penny, the new law aims to simplify transactions for both businesses and consumers in the state.