NH House Committee Approves Bitcoin Bill Unanimously
New Hampshire Takes a Big Step Towards Bitcoin
The New Hampshire House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee has voted 16-1 to support a bill that could let the state buy Bitcoin. This is a big deal because it means the state might start using Bitcoin as part of its money. This is happening at a time when many states in the US are thinking about using digital money like Bitcoin.
What the Bill Says
House Bill 302, introduced by Representative Keith Ammon and supported by Democrats Chris McAleer and Carry Spier, allows the state treasurer to use up to 5% of the state’s money to buy digital assets. These assets must be worth at least $500 billion on average over the past year. Right now, Bitcoin is the only asset that fits this description. The bill also makes sure that any digital assets the state buys are kept safe and are regulated.
Everyone Agrees on This
This bill has support from both Republicans and Democrats, showing that people from different parties agree that using digital money could be good for the state. At first, the bill suggested using up to 10% of the state’s money, but lawmakers changed this to 5% before voting on it. Representative Ammon also said that the bill was changed to only include Bitcoin and not other types of digital money like stablecoins.
Other States Are Doing This Too
New Hampshire is not the only state thinking about using Bitcoin. States like North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas are also considering similar bills. Utah and Arizona have already passed laws about Bitcoin. Even the former US President, Donald Trump, suggested that the US should start using digital money like Bitcoin.
A Big Step Forward
The committee’s vote to support this bill is a big step towards using Bitcoin as part of the state’s money. This shows that more people are accepting digital money as a real way to save and invest. As more states think about doing this, it could change how governments use money and help them become more flexible and strong.
