Ohio representative advocates for legislation that would permit the state treasury to invest in bitcoin

According to House Bill 703, also called the Ohio Bitcoin Reserve Act, the state’s budget should have a Bitcoin fund.

Representative Derek Merrin of Ohio has introduced a measure that seeks to authorize the state’s treasury to invest public funds in Bitcoin.

The Ohio Bitcoin Reserve Act, also known as House Bill 703, aims to create a Bitcoin fund within the state’s treasury and grant the State Treasurer the authority to allocate funds to Bitcoin investments at their discretion.

According to Merrin in a post on X, the U.S. Dollar is experiencing a rapid devaluation, and the State Treasurer should have the authority and flexibility to invest in Bitcoin when determining the appropriate asset allocation.

The measure suggests the addition of section 135.146 to Ohio’s Revised Code and the amendment of section 2981.12.

Although it allows the treasurer to invest in Bitcoin, it does not establish specific purchase quantities or asset allocation objectives.

Merrin asserted that Bitcoin can serve as a safeguard for Ohio’s financial reserves, providing a means to protect public funds from devaluation.

He asserted that this legislative measure would enable the state of Ohio to “reinforce its financial position” and “harness the strength of Bitcoin.”

The bill’s introduction is noteworthy due to the fact that the legislative session is rapidly approaching its conclusion.

Merrin anticipates that the proposal will function as a foundation for discussion during the subsequent session, which commences in 2025.

The initiative is consistent with the broader endeavors at the state and national levels to incorporate Bitcoin into public financial systems.

Representative Mike Cabell of Pennsylvania introduced the Pennsylvania Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act in November 2024. This legislation mandates that up to 10% of the state’s treasury reserves be allocated to Bitcoin as a measure of inflation hedge.

In the meantime, on December 12, Texas Representative Giovanni Capriglione introduced House Bill 1598, which aims to establish a state-controlled Bitcoin reserve and authorize state agencies to take Bitcoin payments for taxes and fees.

Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani, who proposed legislation in October to enable state residents to pay taxes and fees using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, is the driving force behind Ohio’s Bitcoin drive.

Also Read: UK wants input on AI training with copyrighted content