Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB265: Revise cryptocurrency laws to create Financial Freedom and Innovation Act
Status: Signed into law, May 8, 2025
What the bill says
An act revising cryptocurrency laws; establishing the financial freedom and innovation act; prohibiting the use of central bank digital currency by governing authorities; permitting the use of digital assets and blockchain protocols; providing certification requirements for issuers of network tokens; providing rulemaking authority; providing definitions; and amending section 30-10-105, mca.
From the engrossed text:
AN ACT REVISING CRYPTOCURRENCY LAWS; ESTABLISHING THE FINANCIAL FREEDOM AND INNOVATION ACT; PROHIBITING THE USE OF CENTRAL BANK DIGITAL CURRENCY BY GOVERNING AUTHORITIES; PERMITTING THE USE OF DIGITAL ASSETS AND BLOCKCHAIN PROTOCOLS; PROVIDING CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUERS OF NETWORK TOKENS; PROVIDING RULEMAKING AUTHORITY; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AND AMENDING SECTION 30-10-105, MCA. Section 1. Short title. [Sections 1 through 9] may be cited as the "Financial Freedom and Innovation Act". Section 2. Prohibitions on use and testing of central bank digital currency. (1) A governing authority may not accept or require a payment using central bank digital currency. (2) A governing authority may not participate in a test of central bank digital currency by the board of governors of the federal reserve system or a branch or agency of the federal government. Section 3. Permitted uses of digital assets. A governing authority may not prohibit, restrict, or otherwise impair the ability of an individual or business or (2) take custody of digital assets using a self-hosted wallet or hardware wallet. Section 4. Access to blockchain protocols and transfer of digital assets. A business or individual in the state may: (1) operate a node for the purpose of connecting to a blockchain protocol and participating in the - 1 - Authorized Print Version - SB 265 ENROLLED BILL - 2025 69th Legislature 2025 …
Sponsors
- Zolnikov, Daniel (R, 22) · primary sponsor
- Carter, Bob (D, 96)
Latest actions
- : Chapter Number Assigned
- : (S) Signed by Governor
- : (S) Transmitted to Governor
- : (H) Signed by Speaker
- : (S) Signed by President
- : (S) Returned from Enrolling
- : (S) Sent to Enrolling
- : (H) 3rd Reading
- : (H) Scheduled for 3rd Reading
- : (H) 2nd Reading
Votes
- Do Concur (April 11, 2025): 70 yea, 29 nay, passed
- Do Concur (April 10, 2025): 71 yea, 28 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 4, 2025): 44 yea, 6 nay, passed
- Do Pass (March 3, 2025): 45 yea, 4 nay, passed
Subjects: Trade Regulations and Competition, Taxation
Common questions
- What is SB265?
- SB265 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Revise cryptocurrency laws to create Financial Freedom and Innovation Act.
- What does SB265 do?
- In its own words: An act revising cryptocurrency laws; establishing the financial freedom and innovation act; prohibiting the use of central bank digital currency by governing authorities; permitting the use of digital assets and blockchain protocols; providing certification requirements for issuers of network tokens; providing rulemaking authority; providing definitions; and amending section 30-10-105, mca.
- What is the status of SB265?
- Signed into law as of May 8, 2025. Latest action: Chapter Number Assigned (May 8, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB265?
- Zolnikov, Daniel (R, 22), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for SB265?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0324
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.