Oklahoma introduces bill to allow state employees and vendors to be paid in Bitcoin

Oklahoma introduces bill to allow state employees and vendors to be paid in Bitcoin

The Oklahoma State Legislature introduced a bill this week that would allow state employees, vendors, private businesses, and residents to negotiate and receive payments in Bitcoin.

Senate Bill 2064, introduced by Senator Dusty Devers during the 2026 legislative session, establishes a legal framework for the use of Bitcoin as a medium of exchange and compensation without designating it as legal tender.

The bill specifies that it does not violate the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits states from minting money or declaring legal tender other than gold or silver, and instead recognizes Bitcoin as a financial instrument that operates within existing legal frameworks.

If the bill becomes law, Oklahoma employees would be able to choose to receive their salaries or wages in Bitcoin based on the market value of the asset at the start of the pay period or at the time of payment.

Employees will be able to change their payment preferences at the start of each pay period and will be able to choose to receive compensation in Bitcoin, USD, or a combination of both.

Payments are deposited into a self-hosted wallet managed by the employee or a third-party custodial account designated by the employee.

The bill would allow vendors contracting with the state to choose to receive payments in Bitcoin for each transaction. The Bitcoin value of these payments will be determined by the market price at the time of the transaction, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

In addition to state payroll and procurement, the bill broadly allows private businesses and individuals in Oklahoma to negotiate and receive payments in Bitcoin, strengthening Bitcoin’s use as a voluntary medium of exchange throughout the state’s economy.

SB 2064 includes provisions aimed at reducing regulatory friction for Bitcoin-native businesses. According to the text of the bill, companies that only handle digital assets and do not exchange them for U.S. dollars would be exempt from Oklahoma’s money transmitter licensing requirements.

The bill directs the Oklahoma State Treasurer to issue a request for proposals for digital asset companies to process Bitcoin payments to state employees and vendors.

When choosing a provider, treasurers should consider factors such as fees, transaction speeds, cybersecurity practices, storage options, and relevant state licenses. The Minister of Finance has until January 1, 2027 to complete contracts with providers and is authorized to promulgate regulations to implement the program.

Back in January 2025, Oklahoma State Senator Dusty Devers introduced a similar initiative called the Bitcoin Freedom Act (SB 325). The bill was designed to allow employees, vendors, and businesses to voluntarily accept and pay in Bitcoin, as well as create a legal framework for its use in the state’s economy.

Oklahoma’s Bitcoin adoption follows other U.S. states

The move follows other states such as New Hampshire and Texas exploring ways to integrate Bitcoin into their public finances.

New Hampshire passed the nation’s first Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, allowing the state to hold up to 5% of its funds in high-market-cap digital assets and even authorizing municipal bonds backed by Bitcoin.

Meanwhile, through a combination of law and action, the state of Texas created a strategic Bitcoin reserve and made the nearly $5 million purchase of the nation’s first state Bitcoin ETF, a step toward hedging against economic fluctuations and modernizing the state’s finances.

If passed, SB 2064 would go into effect on November 1, 2026, making Oklahoma one of a small but growing number of U.S. states considering integrating Bitcoin directly into government payment systems.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission will also be required to issue guidance by January 1, 2027 on the tax treatment of digital assets received as payments to address areas that tend to create uncertainty for both employees and employers.

The post Oklahoma Introduces Bill to Allow State Employees and Vendors to Pay in Bitcoin was originally published in Bitcoin Magazine and was written by Micah Zimmerman.