Texas Legislature Considers Constitutional Protection for Alternative Currencies

The Texas Legislature is considering a constitutional amendment that would recognize and protect Texans' right to use alternatives to Federal Reserve notes. This would be a critical step toward greater economic freedom and a potential foundation for Texas's financial independence.

House Joint Resolution 175, introduced by Representative Stan Gerdes, would add Section 37 to Article I of the Texas Constitution, explicitly recognizing "the natural right of the people to own, hold, and use a mutually agreed upon medium of exchange, including cash, coin, bullion, digital currency, or privately issued scrip." The amendment would prevent the government from prohibiting these alternative currencies, though the state could still determine what it accepts for official payments.

In the previous legislative session, this measure passed the Texas House with an overwhelming vote of 139 to 2 but stalled when the Senate failed to give it a hearing. Now the bill is getting another chance, with a hearing scheduled in the House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services Committee. If approved by the legislature, Texas voters will decide on the amendment in a referendum on November 4, 2025.

This constitutional protection aligns perfectly with the Texas Nationalist Movement's longstanding advocacy for Texas's economic sovereignty. TNM has championed economic independence through various initiatives, including our "Crypto Enthusiasts for TEXIT" campaign and our early support for the Texas Gold Depository.

TNM President Daniel Miller has consistently advocated for Texas to build financial structures independent of federal systems. Since 2010, TNM backed the creation of the Texas Gold Depository as a vital step toward repatriating Texas's gold and establishing the foundation for state-level banking that could operate autonomously.

HJR 175 comes alongside other promising legislation this session, including HB1049 and HB1056 by Representative Mark Dorazio, which would establish a gold and silver-backed transactional currency through the Texas Bullion Depository. These complementary bills would create practical mechanisms for Texans to use precious metals as legal tender, directly challenging the Federal Reserve's monopoly on our monetary system.

Texas Republicans have already shown support for these concepts through Proposition 7 on the 2024 primary ballot, which endorsed establishing "authority within the Texas State Comptroller's office to administer access to gold and silver through the Texas Bullion Depository for use as legal tender."

These legislative efforts represent concrete steps toward the economic independence that Texas will need when we reassert our status as a self-governing nation. By securing these freedoms now, Texas is building the foundation for a successful transition to independence.

Texans who support HJR 175 can submit comments online through the Texas Legislature's website, and the upcoming committee hearing will be broadcast live. The full text of the bill is available at Texas Legislature Online, with hearing details at capitol.texas.gov.

To help with the TNM's legislative efforts, visit our campaign page. For more information on TNM's economic independence initiatives, visit tnm.me or contact your local TNM group.