- Texas lawmakers vote to add digital currency to the state’s Bill of Rights.
- This move gives citizens the right to own, use and retain digital currency.
- Giovani Capriglione, State Representative, introduced the bill HJR146 amending the Bill of Rights.
Texas legislators have voted to amend the state’s Bill of Rights to add digital currency to allow individuals to possess, retain and utilize digital currencies like Bitcoin (BTC).
The large majority of lawmakers who voted in favor of the amendment may have been a reflection of how they feel about digital currency. 139 legislators voted for the amendment with only 2 voting against.
Bill HJR 16
The bill that contained the amendment was titled Bill HJR 146Giovani Caperiglione was the State Representative who introduced this bill. According to the bill individuals have the rights to use a medium of exchange mutually agreed on, which includes digital currencies or coins, cash, bullion or scrip.
The bill has a stamen which reads:
“No government shall prohibit or hinder the ownership or holding of any form or quantity of money or other currency.”
Texas Bill of Rights
Texas Bill of Rights is similar to US Bill of Rights in that it protects fundamental rights like freedom of expression, religion and the press.
Texas Bill of Rights includes clauses specific to Texas. These include the right of a prompt trial as well as the right of a person to own and carry armed self-defense weapons.
Commenting on the development, the Texas Constitutional Enforcement group said that the inclusion of digital currencies in the Texas Bill of Rights is crucial in safeguarding Texans’ financial privacy.
