Kentucky Enacts Bitcoin Rights Bill as State Bitcoin Reserve Legislation Advances

According to Cointelegraph, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has signed the "Bitcoin Rights" bill into law, establishing protections for cryptocurrency users. This legislation, known as House Bill 701, was introduced by Representative Adam Bowling on February 19 and aims to safeguard the rights of individuals to use digital assets and self-custody wallets. It also prohibits local zoning changes that discriminate against crypto mining activities. The bill outlines guidelines for operating a crypto node, exempts crypto mining from money transmitter license requirements, and clarifies that mining and staking are not considered securities offerings. The bill passed unanimously in both the Kentucky House of Representatives and the state Senate before being signed into law by Governor Beshear on March 24. Kentucky's move mirrors similar legislation enacted by Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt in May 2024. Additionally, Kentucky has proposed a bill to establish a Bitcoin reserve, which would allow the State Investment Commission to allocate up to 10% of excess state reserves into digital assets, including Bitcoin. This proposal is still under review. Meanwhile, Oklahoma's House Bill 1203, known as the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, has passed the State House of Representatives with a significant majority. Introduced by State Representative Cody Maynard on January 15, the bill passed the Government Oversight Committee and now awaits Senate approval. If successful, it will proceed to the governor for final approval. Oklahoma State Senator Dusty Deevers has also introduced legislation to allow residents to receive salaries in Bitcoin. Bitcoin legislation tracker group Bitcoin Laws noted that Oklahoma has moved into equal second place with Texas in the state Bitcoin reserve race, following Arizona, which leads after two strategic digital asset reserve bills advanced in its House Rules Committee. The political landscape in Oklahoma, dominated by Republicans, suggests a favorable outcome for the bill's passage. Meanwhile, Missouri's Special Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs is evaluating its own Bitcoin reserve bill. These developments reflect the growing interest and legislative efforts surrounding cryptocurrency and digital asset management across various U.S. states in 2025.