TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed bills that push back against the possibility of a central-bank digital currency and credit-card companies tracking firearm and ammunition sales.
One of the bills (SB 7054) would prevent digital currency issued by the U.S. Federal Reserve or foreign governments from being treated as money under Florida’s Uniform Commercial Code.
President Joe Biden last year signed an executive order directing officials to examine the risks and benefits of cryptocurrencies.The order also sought recommendations on a central bank digital currency, but no such currency has been adopted.
The Republican-controlled Legislature overwhelmingly passed the bill that DeSantis signed Friday.
DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president in 2024, suggested the law was necessary to keep the federal government from dictating how many guns or gasoline a person can buy.
“They could block, if you filled up your gas tank too much, hey, they’re fighting global warming, ‘You can’t do anymore,” DeSantis said. “Maybe you bought a firearm last week. They don’t want you to buy another one this week.”
The other bill signed Friday (SB 214) will prevent credit-card companies from using a separate merchant category code for sales at gun businesses in Florida. Similar four-digit codes are already used to separate purchases and collect data from places such as grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and bookstores.
Last year, Visa, Mastercard and American Express announced plans to categorize gun-shop sales. But after Republican pushback in several states, the plans are on hold.
The new laws will take effect July 1.
