Arizona House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill to incorporate blockchain and smart contracts into the state's legal framework

In the Arizona State Legislature’s House of Representatives (lower chamber), lawmakers unanimously passed a bill to incorporate blockchain signatures and smart contracts into state law.

Earlier this month, state Rep. Jeff Weninger introduced HB 2417. According to public records, two committees of the Arizona House of Representatives passed the bill unanimously, expressing full support for the bill.

The House passed the bill 59-0 on Feb. 22, with one representative abstaining. The measure has been sent to the Arizona Senate.

The bill specifically mentions smart contract language, or self-executing contracts created on blockchain technology. The bill states:

“Smart contracts are likely to survive in commerce. The legal validity, effectiveness and enforceability of a contract relating to a transaction may not be denied because such a contract includes smart contract clauses.”

The Arizona bill’s success mirrors a blockchain research bill being pursued by two Hawaii lawmakers. The proposal, which seeks to study how the technology could benefit the state, was unanimously passed by the Hawaii legislature earlier this week.

Elsewhere, however, legislative efforts focused on blockchain technology have not been as successful.

In North Dakota, lawmakers put the brakes on a proposal to study Bitcoin regulation after an initial clarification by the state’s Senate. On February 23, public records show that North Dakota’s Industry, Commerce, and Labor Committee recommended that the bill should not be passed under current circumstances.