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FLORIDA - Florida has taken a step toward financial decentralization by officially recognizing gold and silver as legal tender, following the signing of CS/HB 999 into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.
Announced during a press event in Apopka, the legislation permits money service businesses, such as PayPal and check-cashing services, to accept payments in precious metals that meet designated purity criteria.
DeSantis emphasized the constitutional basis of the decision, stating, “We’re the first major state to act on this.”
He argued that the U.S. dollar is increasingly vulnerable to inflation and federal mismanagement, and said the new law is designed to offer Floridians more secure alternatives.
The legislation exempts qualifying gold and silver coins from sales tax, encouraging their use not only as investment tools but as active mediums of exchange in daily life.
According to DeSantis, the bill aligns with his ongoing efforts to reduce centralized control over financial systems, citing previous actions to challenge ESG mandates and so-called “de-banking” policies.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, DeSantis wrote, “HB 999 gives Floridians more financial freedom and a way to protect their money from reckless government spending.”
With this law, Florida positions itself at the forefront of state-level monetary reform, promoting economic sovereignty through precious metals. The move may inspire other states to follow suit in exploring nontraditional forms of legal tender.
No criminal allegations are associated with this legislation or its passage.