Pennsylvania HB 2388: An Act providing for rounding of certain payment sums paid by physical legal tender.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 3223, 3542 PRINTER'S NO. 3681
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2388
Session of
2026
INTRODUCED BY DAVIDSON, HILL-EVANS, SHUSTERMAN, KUTZ, CURRY AND
STAMBAUGH, APRIL 15, 2026
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
JUNE 23, 2026
AN ACT
Providing for rounding of certain payment sums paid by physical
legal tender.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Pennsylvania
Common Cents Act.
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"ACCOUNT." A FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT WITH A UTILITY, SERVICE
PROVIDER OR SIMILAR ENTITY REGARDING THE PAYMENT OF RECURRING
COSTS THAT A CUSTOMER OR RATEPAYER INCURS FOR A CONNECTION OR
SERVICE.
"Collection." The exchange of physical legal tender in
connection with any lawful transaction to satisfy the grand
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17

total obligation.
"Commonwealth agency." A department, bureau, board or other
body created by the laws of this Commonwealth.
"Entity." The term shall have the same meaning as 15 Pa.C.S.
§ 102 (relating to definitions). The term includes public
utilities as defined in 66 Pa.C.S. § 102 (relating to
definitions), AN ASSOCIATION AS DEFINED IN 15 PA.C.S. § 102 and
a sole proprietorship.
"Grand total." The total of a product, goods or services
rendered, including any discounts, deductions and addition to
sales tax, surcharges and fees.
"Microtransaction." Any transaction where the grand total is
below 5¢.
"Municipal authority." A body politic and corporate created
under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 56 (relating to municipal authorities).
"Physical legal tender." Coins, banknotes and other currency
recognized as legal tender under 31 U.S.C. § 5103 (relating to
legal tender).
"Political subdivision." A county, city, borough, township,
incorporated town or school district with taxing jurisdiction in
a defined geographic area within this Commonwealth.
Section 3. Physical legal tender transactions rounding.
A Commonwealth agency, entity, municipal authority or
political subdivision that accepts face-to-face, in-person sales
or collections of physical legal tender in this Commonwealth
shall determine the total due at the time of collection by a
customer or ratepayer. All grand totals shall be collected
pursuant to the following procedures:
(1) If the grand total ends in 1¢, 2¢, 6¢ or 7¢, the
grand total shall be rounded down to the nearest amount
20260HB2388PN3681 - 2 -
<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

divisible by five.
(2) If the grand total ends in 3¢, 4¢, 8¢ or 9¢, the
grand total shall be rounded up to the nearest amount
divisible by five.
Section 4. Microtransactions.
Microtransactions that hold a grand total of 1¢, 2¢, 3¢ or 4¢
shall be rounded up to the nearest nickel.
Section 5. Exception.
Sections 3 and 4 shall not apply to a payment method
utilizing a payment other than physical legal tender, such as a
check, debit card, credit card, gift cards, store value cards,
gift certificates, contactless pay or electronic or digital
payment. This act shall not apply to a Commonwealth agency,
entity, municipal authority, OR political subdivision that can
provide exact change or transactions that are paid TO A
TRANSACTION PAID with the exact physical legal tender NECESSARY
to satisfy the amount of the grand total.
Section 6. Account crediting.
A Commonwealth agency, entity, municipal authority or
political subdivision shall apply a rounding-up credit to the
customer or ratepayer's account balance under section 3(2). A
grand total under section 3(1) shall be constituted as the bill
being paid in full. DEEMED PAID IN FULL FOR THE CURRENT BILLING
CYCLE. A COMMONWEALTH AGENCY, ENTITY, MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OR
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION SHALL ADD ANY DEBIT RESULTING FROM
ROUNDING DOWN TO THE GRAND TOTAL ON THE CUSTOMER'S OR
RATEPAYER'S NEXT BILLING CYCLE. A DEBIT RESULTING FROM ROUNDING
DOWN MAY NOT, BY ITSELF, CONSTITUTE A DELINQUENT AMOUNT FOR THE
PURPOSE OF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(1) INITIATING A TERMINATION PROCEDURE.
20260HB2388PN3681 - 3 -
<--
<--
<--
<--<--
<--<--
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30

(2) ASSESSING OR ACCRUING A LATE PAYMENT CHARGE UNDER 52
PA. CODE CH. 56 (RELATING TO STANDARDS AND BILLING PRACTICES
FOR RESIDENTIAL PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICE).
(3) COMMENCING COLLECTION ACTIVITY.
Section 7. Limited liability.
A Commonwealth agency, entity, municipal authority or
political subdivision that utilizes the rounding procedure shall
not constitute a violation of the act of December 17, 1968
(P.L.1224, No.387), known as the Unfair Trade Practices and
Consumer Protection Law.
Section 8. Effect on tax.
This act shall not affect the imposition, computation,
collection,