On May 12, 2026, Governor Wes Moore signed an emergency measure called the “Penny Rounding” Law. The state says it is a necessary fix for a growing coin shortage, but for regular shoppers, the reality is clear: retailers can now shortchange cash customers right at the register whenever they don’t have pennies.
How the Rounding Math Works
The new law gives stores the legal right to round cash transactions to the nearest five cents when exact change isn’t available. It follows a specific math formula based on how your total bill ends:
1. When you lose out (Rounded Up): If your bill ends in 3, 4, 8, or 9 cents, the price climbs up to the next nickel. You pay slightly more.
2. When you save (Rounded Down): If your total ends in 1, 2, 6, or 7 cents, the price drops down. You pay slightly less.
3. The Big Catch: This rule only applies if you pay with paper cash and don’t bring your own exact change. If you swipe a credit card, use a debit card, or pay digitally with your phone, the price stays exactly the same down to the penny.
A Weird Burden on Everyday People
If you ask me, this law feels incredibly messy and unfair to people who rely on cash. It is no secret that lower-income families, elderly shoppers, and unbanked people use cash much more than anyone else. Now, they have to navigate a confusing math system just to buy basic goods.
What really bothers me is the lack of logic. Some shoppers are already pointing out that rounding a bill ending in 7 down instead of up defies standard math rules we all learned in grade school. It’s also hard to believe the state’s claim that this is an unavoidable crisis. The government didn’t magically run out of pennies overnight; local banks just stopped accepting heavy coin deposits, creating a manufactured supply chain block. Instead of fixing the bank issue, the state essentially told businesses, “Just guess the price and move on.” It’s an awkward fix that is bound to cause arguments at the cash register.
The Fine Print for Shoppers
State officials are urging businesses to be completely transparent, but the rollout is already causing confusion. Stores don’t have to do this. If a shop has a jar full of pennies, they can still give you your exact change. The law protects you from being overtaxed. Sales tax is still calculated on the original price before any rounding happens. A store can round the final bill or the change due, but they absolutely cannot do both to skim extra money from a single purchase.
A Glitch in the System
Maryland is joining a growing list of places trying to phase out the penny because it costs more to manufacture than it’s actually worth. But doing it through an emergency checkout loophole feels less like a smooth transition and more like a headache for the average consumer. Until the penny is officially retired nationwide, Marylanders paying with cash will just have to keep a close eye on their receipts and maybe start carrying a pocketful of exact change to keep from getting shortchanged.
