Nebraska Lawmaker Proposes Bills Focusing on Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies

A Nebraska lawmaker has filed three bills that target blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.

Records indicate that the proposals of State Senator Carol Blood were submitted to Nebraska Legislature on January 3.

One of these amends the state’s money-laundering statutes to relate to cryptocurrencies while the other two focus on blockchain applications on a broader scope.

One of the bills – similar to efforts in other U.S. states – would allow for the tech’s use for notarization and the establishment of a document’s provenance.

If approved, the decree would “authorize and define smart contracts…[and] authorize use of distributed ledger technology in the Electronic Notary Public Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act.”

And following in the move of Nevada, one of Blood’s proposed bills would “prohibit cities and villages and counties from taxing or otherwise regulating the use of distributed ledger technology.”

An identical measure was signed into law last summer, which keeps local jurisdictions from taxing the use of smart contracts.

It also requires a license to use the tech in the first place.

Whether lawmakers in Nebraska will accept the proposed laws remains to be seen.

According to Nebraska legislature’s official website, the bills in question have been forwarded to their respective committees for further examination

No hearing dates have yet to be scheduled.