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House committee sends legal-tender bill on gold and silver to the floor
Summary
House Bill 177, which would recognize gold and silver for use in voluntary transactions between willing buyers and sellers, passed out of the House State Affairs Committee by voice vote and will go to the full House with a do-pass recommendation.
The House State Affairs Committee voted to send House Bill 177 to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation after sponsor Representative Steve Miller described the bill as a limited legal-tender measure allowing willing buyers and sellers to use domestic gold and silver in transactions.
“Miller said H 177 legalizes silver and gold. This is limited to a willing seller, a willing buyer. No one is compelled to receive, or provide gold in any transaction,” he told the committee.
Nicholas Kleinorth, policy director at the Idaho Freedom Foundation, testified in support, arguing that precious metals hold value when the dollar’s purchasing power falls. “Gold and silver are money recognized by the United States Constitution. It's time for Idaho to exercise her rights as a state to recognize these precious metals as legal tender,” Kleinorth said.
Representative Alfieri moved to send H 177 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. Several committee members spoke in favor; Representative Kiely said that, while he disagreed with the economic analysis, he would support the motion because voluntary transactions are a matter of personal choice. Representative Barbieri supported the motion but raised a question about whether recognition as legal tender implies the state must accept precious metals for tax payments — a point she said was not covered in the bill text.
The committee approved the do-pass motion by voice vote. The bill will next appear on the House floor for further consideration.
