OLYMPIA, Wash. — State lawmakers plan to discuss a new measure over the legislative session in response to the federal government’s decision to stop minting pennies.
Representative April Berg (D-Mill Creek) introduced House Bill 2334 to establish rules for cash transactions in Washington.
Berg highlighted the confusion businesses face due to the lack of federal guidance.
“Without clear guidance, cash-only businesses have been unsure of how to handle rounding, which can create confusion and errors in transactions,” she said. “HB 2334 solves this problem by putting clear rules into state law.”
The bill proposes asymmetrical rounding for cash payments, rounding to the nearest nickel.
Totals ending in 1 or 2 cents will round down to 0, while those ending in 3, 4, 6, or 7 cents will round to 5. Totals ending in 8 or 9 cents will round up to 10.
Electronic payments and other non-cash transactions will remain unaffected.
Additionally, HB 2334 directs state departments to issue clear rules for transactions involving both cash and other payment methods.
“By codifying rounding in state law, we can prevent confusion, reduce small transaction errors, and help businesses transition smoothly,” Berg said.
The Washington State Legislature will consider HB 2334 during its 2026 legislative session, which convenes on January 12 and runs for 60 consecutive days.
