Texas lawmakers authorized laws to ascertain a state-level strategic Bitcoin (BTC) reserve on Could 21 after a 101‑42 Home vote, in line with the Home livestream.
The SB 21 invoice is now solely pending the approval of Governor Greg Abbott earlier than it may turn into legislation.
Bitcoin reserve
The proposal permits the state comptroller to amass 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 major sponsors, informed colleagues throughout ground debate forward of the tally:
“Right now 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‑considering area ready for the evolution of worldwide finance.
As soon as SB 21 reaches his desk, Governor Abbott has 20 days to signal or veto it. If the governor takes no motion, the invoice will turn into legislation with no signature on the primary enterprise day thereafter.
Consequently, Texas would 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 writer, argued that allocating a slice of Texas’s out there money to Bitcoin can defend buying energy throughout financial shocks.
Beneath the textual content superior to the governor, the comptroller should disclose acquisition dates, unit counts, and combination value 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 as a result of Home Appropriations Committee by January 2026, establishing a evaluate forward of the 89th Legislature.
