88R10236 SRA-D     By: Parker S.B. No. 1558       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the use of certain gold or silver bullion or specie as   legal tender and an exemption from sales and use taxes for certain   items containing certain precious metals.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 15, Business & Commerce Code,   is amended by adding Chapter 662 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 662. GOLD OR SILVER BULLION OR SPECIE AS LEGAL TENDER          Sec. 662.001.  GOLD OR SILVER BULLION OR SPECIE AS LEGAL   TENDER. (a) In this section, "bullion" and "specie" have the   meanings assigned by Section 2116.001, Government Code.          (b)  Specie issued by the United States is legal tender in   this state.          (c)  Except as expressly provided by contract, a person may   not compel any other person to tender or accept specie.          (d)  Gold or silver specie bullion or specie, other than gold   or silver specie that is issued by the United States, is considered   to be legal tender in this state if:                (1)  a court of competent jurisdiction issues a final,   unappealable judgment or order stating that this state may   recognize the gold or silver bullion or specie other than gold or   silver specie issued by the United States as legal tender in this   state; or                (2)  the United States Congress enacts legislation   that:                      (A)  expressly provides that the gold or silver   bullion or specie other than gold or silver specie that is issued by   the United States is legal tender in this state; or                      (B)  expressly allows this state to recognize the   gold or silver bullion or specie other than gold or silver specie   issued by the United States as legal tender in this state.          SECTION 2.  Section 151.336, Tax Code, is amended to read as   follows:          Sec. 151.336.  CERTAIN COINS AND OTHER ITEMS CONTAINING   PRECIOUS METALS. The sale of the following are exempted from the   taxes imposed by this chapter:                (1)  gold, silver, or numismatic coins;                (2)  [or of] platinum, gold, or silver bullion; and                (3)  a note, leaf, foil, or film that:                      (A)  is used as currency;                      (B)  is not considered legal tender by this state,   another state, the United States, or a foreign country; and                      (C)  has a gold, silver, or platinum metallic   content of at least 50 percent, exclusive of any transparent   polymer holder, coating, or encasement [is exempted from the taxes   imposed by this chapter].          SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act to Section   151.336, Tax Code, does not affect tax liability accruing before   the effective date of this Act. That liability continues in effect   as if this Act had not been enacted, and the former law is continued   in effect for the collection of taxes due and for civil and criminal   enforcement of the liability for those taxes.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.