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House committee amends, then defeats bill to accept cryptocurrency payments; later tables measure
Summary
The Montana House Taxation Committee approved an amendment to HB 453 clarifying third-party payment processing for cryptocurrency but later defeated the bill on a roll-call vote and subsequently voted to table it.
The Montana House Taxation Committee on executive action amended House Bill 453 to clarify how cryptocurrency payments to the state would be processed, then defeated the bill on a roll-call vote and later voted to table it.
The amendment approved by the committee shifted responsibility for third‑party vendor fees to the person making the payment and removed language related to state capital‑gains taxation, according to committee discussion. Representative Durham raised concerns about classifying cryptocurrency as a foreign currency, saying, “I currently see crypto currency as a foreign currency and so for me to say yes on this bill would be to mandate the state of Montana to accept a foreign currency.”
The amendment sponsor explained the mechanics of the proposal, saying, “we use PayZell, as our third party provider,” and described the process as similar to a credit card transaction: the taxpayer works with a third‑party processor and the state receives dollars rather than the digital token. Committee members said that change addressed Department of Revenue concerns about state costs; the committee expected a revised fiscal note showing a significantly smaller state impact than an earlier estimate of about $75,000.
After the amendment passed by voice vote, the committee voted on the bill as amended. On a roll call the committee vote was 8 in favor and 13 opposed; the chair announced HB 453 had been defeated in committee. Following that defeat, a motion to table HB 453 passed 20‑1.
The committee record shows the amendment passed unanimously in committee, the subsequent do‑pass motion failed on roll call, and the bill was then tabled. No additional committee direction or floor carrier was recorded during the HB 453 discussion.
Votes at a glance: amendment to HB 453 — passed (voice vote, committee reported 21 ayes, 0 no); final bill vote — failed (8 yes, 13 no); motion to table — passed (20 yes, 1 no).
