Arizona Governor Doug Ducey has signed a bill into law that prohibits the blockchain technology from being used to track firearm information.
First filed by Arizona state representative Paul Boyer in January, HB 2216 will prevent anyone – although law enforcement are exempt under the rule – from using the distributed ledger to track when a firearm has been fired.
The bill states:
‘Electronic firearm tracking technology’ means a platform, system or device or a group of systems or devices that uses a shared ledger, distributed ledger or block chain technology or any similar form of technology or electronic database for the purpose of storing information in a decentralized or centralized way, that is not owned or controlled by any single person or entity and that is used to locate or control the use of a firearm.
According to public records, the senate passed the bill earlier this month with a vote of 17-12, with one member abstaining. It then moved to the House this week where the bill passed with a vote of 34-24, with one member abstaining. After being sent across to Gov. Ducey, the bill was signed into law.
This is the second bill that Gov. Ducey has signed into law that focuses on the blockchain. At the end of March, Ducey also signed a bill that recognizes blockchain signatures and smart contracts after it passed the House with a vote of 28-1.
However, while Arizona seems to be leading the way with passing blockchain bills, it is not the only state to sign them into law.
Other Blockchain Bills
It was announced in February that Hawaii had filed a bill, HB 1481, which is aimed at boosting tourism and the technology trade in the state.
New Hampshire is also getting on board after passing bill, HB 436 in the House of Representatives last month. If passed it means that people using digital currencies could be excused from money transmitter regulations in the state. Whether or not this will happen remains to be seen with its fate to be determined in the state Senate.
Of course, while these are just a few cases of the blockchain bills that have passed or are in progress, it highlights the direction many states are moving in.
Keen interest in the blockchain can also be seen through the Washington D.C.-based bipartisan Congression blockchain caucus, which formed to research the technology further and its potential regulations for future use.
Featured image from Shutterstock.
