Michigan State Rep. Matt Maddock has launched laws that will permit labeled state civil service workers to obtain their wages in Bitcoin or different qualifying digital property, marking what supporters describe as a first-of-its-kind effort to combine Bitcoin into state payroll techniques.
The proposal would amend Michigan’s Fee of Wages and Fringe Advantages Act (1978 PA 390) by including a brand new part allowing salaried state workers, starting Jan. 1, 2027, to select from three strategies of compensation: U.S. foreign money paid in particular person on the Division of Treasury in Lansing, direct deposit or digital switch to a monetary establishment, or fee in a digital foreign money of the worker’s selection.
Underneath the invoice that was shared with Bitcoin Journal, the state can be required to supply no less than six digital foreign money choices, with Bitcoin mandated as one among them.Â
The laws additionally prohibits the state from providing any state-owned or state-controlled digital foreign money through which issuance or provide is managed by a nationwide authorities or central financial institution — a provision that successfully bars the usage of central financial institution digital currencies (CBDCs).
Maddock, a Republican from Milford and present vice chair of the Home Appropriations Committee, mentioned the measure is aimed toward increasing monetary selection for public employees and positioning Michigan as a pacesetter in digital asset adoption.Â
Professional-bitcoin laws popping out of Michigan
The invoice was developed in partnership with the Michigan Bitcoin Commerce Council, a statewide advocacy group centered on Bitcoin training and coverage.
If enacted, Michigan would develop into one of many first states to formally authorize bitcoin as a wage fee choice for presidency workers.Â
Whereas a number of private-sector employers throughout the U.S. have experimented with paying employees in digital property, state-level payroll integration stays uncommon.
The wage proposal is a part of a broader bundle of pro-Bitcoin laws advancing in Lansing. Companion measures embrace HB 4511, which might set up a digital asset invoice of rights prohibiting state and native governments from banning Bitcoin possession or use; HB 4510, making a framework for potential pension fund funding in large-cap digital property; and HB 4512 and HB 4513, which search to incentivize Bitcoin mining operations powered by deserted oil and pure gasoline wells.
The wage invoice requires the state to honor an worker’s chosen fee methodology and units parameters for digital asset choices however doesn’t element the operational mechanics of conversion, custody or volatility administration.Â
These implementation questions would seemingly fall to the Division of Treasury and different administrative businesses if the measure turns into regulation.
Maddock mentioned he’s working to safe bipartisan co-sponsors forward of the invoice’s formal numbering and committee referral.
Final week, Missouri Home Invoice 2080, launched by Consultant Ben Keathley, was referred to the Home Commerce Committee, proposing the creation of a state-managed Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Fund that will permit the treasurer to amass, custody, and maintain bitcoin in chilly storage for no less than 5 years underneath outlined statutory tips.
In Might 2025, New Hampshire empowered the state treasurer to allocate as much as 10% of state funds into digital property or treasured metals with a market capitalization exceeding $500 billion.
Since then, different states — together with Arizona and Texas — have adopted go well with, advancing or establishing comparable bitcoin reserve frameworks.
