As pennies disappear, Washington must address how retailers make change

By: Jerry Cornfield

Outlets: Washington State Standard

Published: February 9, 2026

Words: 706

Last Updated: 3 weeks ago

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When the federal government stopped making pennies, it left it up to states to decide how retailers deal with the change.

In Washington, lawmakers are trying to come up with a uniform approach for merchants that is easy to understand for consumers.

Legislation making its way through the House and Senate would direct retailers to round cash transactions up or down to the nearest 5 cents when they make change. Payments with credit …

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