1     
JOINT RESOLUTION DIRECTING A STUDY OF

2     
BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

3     
2019 GENERAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Michael K. McKell

6     
Senate Sponsor: Daniel Hemmert

7     

8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This resolution directs a legislative study of blockchain technology.
11     Highlighted Provisions:
12          This resolution:
13          ▸     recognizes the potential benefits and applications of blockchain technology; and
14          ▸     directs the Business and Labor Interim Committee to study and make legislative
15     recommendations regarding the potential benefits and value of blockchain
16     technology, including potential uses in state government.
17     Special Clauses:
18          None
19     

20     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
21          WHEREAS, blockchain is a decentralized distributed ledger technology that allows
22     creation, validation, and encrypted transaction of digital assets to happen and be recorded in an
23     incorruptible way;
24          WHEREAS, blockchain allows peer-to-peer and business-to-business transactions to be
25     completed without the need for a third party, which is often a bank, effectively reducing
26     transaction costs;
27          WHEREAS, recording transactions through blockchain virtually eliminates human
28     error and protects the data from possible tampering;
29          WHEREAS, the global blockchain market is expected to be worth $20 billion by 2024,

30     and 90% of major North American and European banks are exploring blockchain solutions;
31          WHEREAS, a hyperconnected government enables unprecedented transparency and
32     efficiency where services are tailored to an individual's needs; and
33          WHEREAS, instead of using blockchain technology only for currency, new blockchain
34     systems could focus on other types of transactions, such as exchanging titles for houses or cars,
35     essentially decentralizing the infrastructure for these sales and making them faster and cheaper
36     compared to what would normally be a slow complicated trudge through bureaucracy:
37          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
38     directs that, before the 2020 Annual General Session, the Business and Labor Interim
39     Committee study the potential benefits and value of blockchain technology, including the
40     potential benefits and value it could provide to state government administration and affairs.
41          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Business and Labor Interim Committee, based
42     on its study of blockchain technology, prepare any legislation it finds appropriate for
43     consideration by the Legislature during the 2020 Annual General Session.