Utah Legal Tender Act

The Utah Legal Tender Act, passed March 10, 2011, recognizes gold and silver coins issued by the United States[1] as legal tender in the state of Utah.[2] This includes allowing the state of Utah to pay off debts in gold and silver and allowing individuals to transact in gold and silver coins without paying state capital gains tax,[3] among other provisions.[4] The bill was introduced as HB317 by State Representative Brad J. Galvez.[5]

Utah Legal Tender Act
Utah State Legislature
Passed by	Utah House of Representatives
Passed	March 4, 2011
Passed by	Utah State Senate
Passed	March 10, 2011
Signed by	Gov. Gary Herbert
Signed	March 25, 2011
Legislative history
First chamber: Utah House of Representatives
Bill title	H.B. 317
Introduced by	Rep. Brad J. Galvez
First reading	February 24, 2011
Second reading	March 2, 2011
Third reading	March 4, 2011
Second chamber: Utah State Senate
Bill title	H.B. 317
Member in charge	Sen. Scott K. Jenkins
First reading	March 4, 2011
Second reading	March 9, 2011
Third reading	March 10, 2011
Summary
Recognizes gold and silver coins issued by the federal government as legal tender in the state
Status: In force

In 2020, KSL-TV in Salt Lake City, Utah reported 25-50% of small business in Utah were accepting independently produced Goldback currency which had been created in the aftermath of the 2011 law.[6]

The law does not violate the constitution of the USA as the constitution allows individual states to make gold and silver legal tender, affording the same power to the federal government but granting the federal government the additional power to issue paper money.[7]