Texas lawmakers authorised laws to determine a state-level strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve on Could 21 after a 101‑42 Home vote, in response to the Home livestream.
Based on Bitcoin Legal guidelines, the SB 21 invoice now must be authorised once more within the Senate with the Home’s added amendments. The Senate authorised the earlier iteration of the invoice with a 25-5 vote in favor on March 5.
Following the Senate vote, the laws shall be despatched to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for his ultimate approval earlier than it could possibly turn into legislation.
As soon as SB 21 reaches his desk, the Governor may have 20 days to signal or veto it. If the governor takes no motion, the invoice will turn into legislation with out a signature on the primary enterprise day thereafter.
Bitcoin reserve
The proposal permits the state comptroller to accumulate Bitcoin utilizing surplus Common Income, topic to reporting guidelines that mirror these utilized to gold bullion held within the Texas Bullion Depository.
Congressman Giovanni Capriglione, one of many invoice’s main sponsors, informed colleagues throughout ground debate forward of the tally:
“As we speak is a pivotal second in securing Texas’ management within the digital age with the passage of our strategic Bitcoin reserve. Now we embrace a contemporary asset with conventional properties, however future promise.”
He added {that a} Bitcoin reserve not solely strengthens Texas’s fiscal sovereignty but in addition positions the state as a ahead‑pondering area ready for the evolution of world finance.
Texas is on tempo to turn into the third US state to direct public funds into Bitcoin as a part of a strategic reserve framework, following Arizona and New Hampshire.
The US state would provoke Bitcoin purchases solely after the comptroller publishes procurement pointers within the Texas Register and secures a storage contract that satisfies the statute’s location requirement.
Legislative pathway
The Senate cleared SB 21 on March 6. Sen. Charles Schwertner, the invoice creator, argued that allocating a slice of Texas’s out there money to Bitcoin can shield buying energy throughout financial shocks.
Underneath the textual content superior to the governor, the comptroller should disclose acquisition dates, unit counts, and combination price foundation every quarter.
The laws doesn’t impose a greenback‑denominated cap. Nonetheless, it requires holdings to be custodied with a certified entity inside Texas or inside a US jurisdiction that acknowledges Bitcoin as property.
The invoice additionally instructs the comptroller to check potential income streams tied to community participation, together with Lightning‑enabled cost rails for state charges.
These findings are because of the Home Appropriations Committee by January 2026, organising a evaluation forward of the 89th Legislature.
