RESOLUTION ANALYSIS C.S.H.J.R. 175 By: Gerdes Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The resolution author has informed the committee that under current law, Texans are able to conduct commerce and provide for their families using a multitude of methods like cash, checks, and credit or debit cards and that with the rise of cryptocurrencies and other digital monies, there is a fear that financial institutions may deprive Texans of their ability to make the best choices for themselves regarding how they engage in commerce. C.S.H.J.R. 175 seeks to forever enshrine monetary freedom as a right for all Texans by proposing a constitutional amendment to reaffirm that Texans have the right to own, hold, and use a mutually agreed upon medium of exchange, including cash, coin, bullion, digital currency, or privately issued scrip when trading and contracting for goods and services. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.J.R. 175 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to prohibit the infringement of the right for people to own, hold, and use a mutually agreed upon medium of exchange, including cash, coin, bullion, digital currency, or privately issued scrip, when trading and contracting for goods and services. The resolution prohibits any government from prohibiting or encumbering the ownership or holding of any form or amount of money or other currency. The resolution prohibits its provisions from being construed as restricting the state from choosing the medium of exchange the state will accept for payments made to the state. ELECTION DATE The constitutional amendment proposed by this joint resolution will be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025. COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.J.R. 175 differs from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain drafting conventions.
RESOLUTION ANALYSIS
# RESOLUTION ANALYSIS
C.S.H.J.R. 175
By: Gerdes
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Committee Report (Substituted)
C.S.H.J.R. 175
By: Gerdes
Pensions, Investments & Financial Services
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The resolution author has informed the committee that under current law, Texans are able to conduct commerce and provide for their families using a multitude of methods like cash, checks, and credit or debit cards and that with the rise of cryptocurrencies and other digital monies, there is a fear that financial institutions may deprive Texans of their ability to make the best choices for themselves regarding how they engage in commerce. C.S.H.J.R. 175 seeks to forever enshrine monetary freedom as a right for all Texans by proposing a constitutional amendment to reaffirm that Texans have the right to own, hold, and use a mutually agreed upon medium of exchange, including cash, coin, bullion, digital currency, or privately issued scrip when trading and contracting for goods and services.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS C.S.H.J.R. 175 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to prohibit the infringement of the right for people to own, hold, and use a mutually agreed upon medium of exchange, including cash, coin, bullion, digital currency, or privately issued scrip, when trading and contracting for goods and services. The resolution prohibits any government from prohibiting or encumbering the ownership or holding of any form or amount of money or other currency. The resolution prohibits its provisions from being construed as restricting the state from choosing the medium of exchange the state will accept for payments made to the state.
ELECTION DATE The constitutional amendment proposed by this joint resolution will be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.J.R. 175 differs from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain drafting conventions.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The resolution author has informed the committee that under current law, Texans are able to conduct commerce and provide for their families using a multitude of methods like cash, checks, and credit or debit cards and that with the rise of cryptocurrencies and other digital monies, there is a fear that financial institutions may deprive Texans of their ability to make the best choices for themselves regarding how they engage in commerce. C.S.H.J.R. 175 seeks to forever enshrine monetary freedom as a right for all Texans by proposing a constitutional amendment to reaffirm that Texans have the right to own, hold, and use a mutually agreed upon medium of exchange, including cash, coin, bullion, digital currency, or privately issued scrip when trading and contracting for goods and services.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this resolution does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
C.S.H.J.R. 175 proposes an amendment to the Texas Constitution to prohibit the infringement of the right for people to own, hold, and use a mutually agreed upon medium of exchange, including cash, coin, bullion, digital currency, or privately issued scrip, when trading and contracting for goods and services. The resolution prohibits any government from prohibiting or encumbering the ownership or holding of any form or amount of money or other currency. The resolution prohibits its provisions from being construed as restricting the state from choosing the medium of exchange the state will accept for payments made to the state.
ELECTION DATE
The constitutional amendment proposed by this joint resolution will be submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 4, 2025.
COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE
C.S.H.J.R. 175 differs from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain drafting conventions.