As the U.S. government shutdown stretches into its second week, one state is moving in a very different direction.

Florida has introduced a bold new proposal that could make it one of the first states to directly invest public funds in Bitcoin and cryptocurrency ETFs.

Filed by Republican lawmaker Webster Barnaby, the new House Bill 183 (HB183) would authorize the state to allocate up to 10% of its major public funds – including the General Revenue Fund, Budget Stabilization Fund, and various trust funds – into digital assets.

If approved, the measure would give Florida’s Chief Financial Officer and State Board of Governors the power to manage these crypto investments. It would also open the door for residents to pay certain taxes and fees in digital assets, which would then be automatically converted into U.S. dollars before entering the state treasury.

HB183 positions Bitcoin as a store of value and a potential hedge against inflation, underscoring the growing view that digital assets can complement traditional reserves. The proposal sets July 1, 2026, as its tentative start date, pending committee approval, a Senate vote, and final endorsement by the governor.

If passed, the initiative would align Florida with a small but growing group of states experimenting with digital reserves. Arizona, New Hampshire, and Texas have already enacted laws allowing Bitcoin-based holdings in their treasuries, signaling a broader shift in how local governments view cryptocurrency’s role in public finance.

While Washington remains gridlocked, state-level actions like Florida’s HB183 suggest that the next wave of Bitcoin adoption may be led not by federal regulators, but by the states themselves.