Yesterday evening, the Kentucky Senate unanimously passed a bill aimed at protecting Bitcoin self-custody rights and digital asset mining operations. With a decisive 37-0 vote, the legislation, titled AN ACT relating to blockchain digital assets (HB 701), now moves to the Governor’s desk for final approval.

Sponsored by Representatives Adam Bowling and T.J. Roberts, the bill affirms the right of individuals to self-custody digital assets through self-hosted wallets. Additionally, it prevents local zoning laws from discriminating against digital asset mining businesses, ensuring that Bitcoin miners can operate freely within the state.

The bill outlines several key provisions, including:

• Protection for Bitcoin self-custody: Individuals have the legal right to use and store digital assets in self-hosted wallets.
• Prohibition of discriminatory zoning laws: Local governments cannot impose zoning changes that unfairly target digital asset mining businesses.
• Exemptions from money transmitter licensing: Home Bitcoin miners and digital asset mining businesses are exempt from Kentucky’s money transmitter requirements.
• Clarification of securities laws: Digital asset mining and staking as a service are explicitly not classified as securities under Kentucky law.

After passing through the Kentucky House with a 91-0 vote on February 28, 2025, the bill moved swiftly through the Senate. The March 13 vote saw full bipartisan support, with 37 senators voting in favor, zero opposed, and one not voting.

The legislation now awaits the Governor’s signature, which would officially enshrine Bitcoin self-custody protections and digital asset mining rights into Kentucky law. If signed, Kentucky will become one of the more Bitcoin-friendly states in the country, setting a precedent for other states to follow.

California Legislators have endorsed bitcoin nonprofit founder Dom Bei in his campaign for a seat on the board of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS).

CalPERS oversees a massive $500 billion pension fund serving over 2 million public sector retirees. If elected, Bei would be the first openly pro-bitcoin voice on the 13-member board.

Bei is a 16-year veteran firefighter who founded Proof of Workforce, a nonprofit providing bitcoin education to workers, unions and pension funds. He previously served on Santa Monica’s pension advisory board and played a key role in the city’s firefighters union, becoming one of the first to hold bitcoin.

Through his outreach work, Bei has assisted multiple unions, associations and pensions in exploring and adopting bitcoin strategies. This includes spearheading education efforts for the Wisconsin Retirement System.

He stated, “Now more than ever, pension participants and stakeholders need to engage with with their pension funds. I am running for the CalPERS Board of Trustees with the goal of being a conduit for engagement and transparency, while advocating for the long term health and success of the nation’s largest pension fund.”

He received endorsements from a wide range of supporters including the California State Senator Ben Allen, Tony Vazquez of the California Board of Equalization, Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, President of the Santa Monica Firefighters Local 1109 Garrett Childers and others. This diverse coalition demonstrates the broad appeal of Bei’s message and qualifications.

CalPERS faces growing headwinds with its traditional 60/40 portfolio allocation, struggling amid inflation and rising interest rates. With ballots going out in late August, Bei’s bitcoin credentials could resonate with California’s public workforce seeking new strategies to shore up their retirement security.

His campaign website accepts donations in both fiat and bitcoin.