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Read. Follow. Verify.Idaho authorizes domestic and foreign gold and silver coin and specie as legal tender starting July 1, 2026
Last action · March 30, 2026: Reported Signed by Governor on March 26, 2026 Session Law Chapter 185 Effective: 07/01/2026
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What This Bill Does
Idaho recognizes domestic and foreign gold and silver coin and as in the state to the full extent allowed by the U.S. Constitution, effective July 1, 2026. The legislation permits the state to use gold and silver specie in conducting its business while prohibiting parties from compelling others to accept or tender precious metals unless agreed upon by contract or statute.
Establishes a statutory framework for precious metal currency use across state transactions, affecting whether public and private entities can utilize alternative coinage while explicitly protecting individuals from being forced to accept it without prior agreement.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
State of Idaho
The state is granted the option to use gold and silver coin and specie in conducting its business.
Persons and entities in Idaho
Parties engaging in transactions cannot be compelled to accept or tender gold and silver specie without a prior contract or statutory provision.
Key Facts
- Idaho Code Section 67-9803 is redesignated and revised regarding gold and silver coin and specie.
- Domestically and foreign minted gold and silver coin and specie are recognized as legal tender in Idaho to the extent allowed by the U.S. Constitution.
- The state may elect to use gold and silver coin and specie when conducting its business.
- No person or entity may compel another to tender or accept gold or silver coin or specie unless explicitly agreed upon by statute or contract.
Show all 5 facts
- The act takes effect on July 1, 2026, due to an emergency declared to exist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone force me to accept gold or silver coins as payment under this law?
When does this law go into effect?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
17 actions- Mar 30, 2026EnrolledReported Signed by Governor on March 26, 2026 Session Law Chapter 185 Effective: 07/01/2026
- Mar 26, 2026Delivered to Governor at 4:39 p.m. on March 25, 2026
- Mar 25, 2026Returned Signed by the President; Ordered Transmitted to Governor
- Mar 25, 2026Signed by President; returned to House
- Mar 25, 2026Received from the House enrolled/signed by Speaker
- Mar 24, 2026Reported Enrolled; Signed by Speaker; Transmitted to Senate
Show 11 earlier actions
- Mar 24, 2026FloorReturned from Senate Passed; to JRA for Enrolling
- Mar 23, 2026FloorRead third time in full – PASSED - 28-5-2 AYES – Anthon, Bernt, Blaylock, Burtenshaw, Carlson, Cook, Den Hartog, Foreman, Galloway, Grow, Guthrie, Harris, Hart, Keyser, Kohl, Lakey, Lenney, Lent, Nichols, Okuniewicz, Ricks, Ruchti, Shippy, Toews, VanOrden, Woodward, Zito, Zuiderveld NAYS – Rabe, Semmelroth, Taylor, Ward-Engelking, Wintrow Absent and excused – Adams, Bjerke(Bjerke) Floor Sponsor - Kohl Title apvd - to House
- Mar 17, 2026Read second time; filed for Third Reading
- Mar 16, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation; Filed for second reading
- Feb 27, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time; referred to: State Affairs
- Feb 27, 2026FloorReceived from the House passed; filed for first reading
- Feb 26, 2026FloorRead Third Time in Full – PASSED - 55-13-2 AYES – Alfieri, Barbieri, Beiswenger, Bingham, Boyle, Bruce, Burgoyne, Cannon, Cayler, Cheatum, Cornilles, Crane(12), Crane(13), Dygert, Ehardt, Ehlers, Erickson, Furniss, Garner, Hall(Stone), Harris, Hawkins, Healey, Hill, Holtzclaw, Hostetler, Leavitt, Marmon, Mendive, Miller, Mitchell, Monks, Nelsen, Palmer, Pickett, Pohanka, Price, Rasor, Raybould, Raymond, Redman, Sauter, Scott, Shepherd, Shirts, Skaug, Tanner(13), Tanner(14), Thompson, Vander Woude, Veile, Weber, Wheeler, Wisniewski, Mr. Speaker NAYS – Berch, Church, Egbert, Fuhriman, Galaviz, Gannon, Green, Handy, Manwaring, Mathias, Mickelsen, Petzke, Rubel Absent – Haws, McCann Floor Sponsor - Miller Title apvd - to Senate
- Feb 25, 2026Read second time; Filed for Third Reading
- Feb 24, 2026Reported out of Committee with Do Pass Recommendation, Filed for Second Reading
- Feb 13, 2026CommitteeReported Printed and Referred to State Affairs
- Feb 12, 2026IntroducedIntroduced, read first time, referred to JRA for Printing
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Expansion of State Legal Tender Options
The state updates previous 2025 enactments to explicitly include foreign-minted gold and silver coin alongside domestic options.
Connected Entities
Sources
legislature.idaho.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance55How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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