US House of Representatives member, Cody Harris, has presented a bill that is specifically designed to safeguard the rights of Bitcoin miners and owners in the state of Texas.
The bill proposes that the rights of cryptocurrency holders should be protected under the Section 9 of Article I of the Texas Constitution, which protects citizens’ homes, documents, and properties from unreasonable searches or confiscations.
In essence, this resolution seeks to extend the same protection to digital property, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
Harris argues that every resident in the state of Texas has the right to own and store Bitcoin, and no one should be deprived of this right.
The bill also seeks to protect Bitcoin miners and developers by allowing them to use any form of energy to power the Bitcoin network in Texas.
Harris believes that the activities of Bitcoin miners should not be limited by any laws or regulations.
Harris points out that heavy cryptocurrency regulations in China have driven many companies to move to other countries that are more crypto-friendly, including Texas.
However, the lawmaker fears that if other states follow in the footsteps of New York, which recently approved a bill banning Proof-of-Work (PoW) cryptocurrency mining for two years, Bitcoin miners may be forced to leave Texas for more welcoming jurisdictions.
In contrast to the recent call by Texas Senator Ted Cruz for a ban on the digital dollar, which he fears could hinder the adoption of Bitcoin in Texas, Harris’s bill seeks to protect and promote the use of Bitcoin in the state.