Commerce subcommittee advances amended bill limiting local rules on digital-asset mining; private-key language removed

A House Commerce and Consumer Affairs subcommittee on Tuesday advanced an amended bill that would limit how state and local governments may regulate digital-asset (cryptocurrency) mining operations, delete a proposed private‑key requirement, and bar discriminatory electricity rate schedules specifically targeted at miners.

The subcommittee voted to adopt amendments and recommended the bill ought to pass as amended in subcommittee by a 7–1 tally. Representative Ammon moved the first amendment (0138h) with Representative Speer seconding; members indicated support by raised hands. Later, an amended version (0445h) also passed in subcommittee before the committee voted 7–1 to move the bill forward.

The amendment package removes two definitions — including “private key” and “home digital asset mining” — and deletes a proposed private‑key enforcement section. Sponsors said the private‑key language was intentionally dropped so an oversight commission can revisit how to handle that technical issue. The sponsor described the change as “we decided that it was best to just remove that…