At Solari, two of our top state legislative priorities are establishing meaningful guardrails for programmable money and protecting the right to use cash. As we prepare for upcoming legislative sessions, we are looking for people across the country who want to help advance these efforts in their own states. For Solari subscribers, we have a Connect group called What the States Can Do (How to Work with Your State Legislators) for those interested in becoming grassroots activists in the financial freedom trenches in their states.

One of our primary goals is to introduce Solari's model legislation establishing guardrails for programmable money in as many states as possible. We also want to continue advancing mandatory cash acceptance legislation. We believe Idaho offers a particularly useful starting point. Idaho successfully passed legislation requiring state agencies, including state-funded universities, to accept cash. This is a practical approach that other states can build upon, and we are happy to coach interested citizens through the process of approaching legislators, introducing model legislation, building support, and moving a bill forward.

If you are a Solari subscriber, please join the What the States Can Do Connect group. We'll soon be getting much more active there as we prepare for the next round of state legislative sessions. If you're not currently a Solari subscriber but would like to work on financial freedom legislation in your state, please email Elizabeth@solari.com. We'd be delighted to help you get started.

For those who attended our July 30 Solari Monthly Briefing, "The Growing Importance of the States' Support of Cash," we have now posted the state-by-state data on credit card swipe fees referenced by guest presenter Susan Luschas.

The data provides a useful look at just how much merchants are paying in credit card fees across the country—and helps illustrate another important reason to preserve cash as a viable payment option. Credit Card Swipe Fees Paid by State: https://audio.solari.com/ft2/Swipe_Fees_Paid_by_State.pdf

During the briefing, our speakers discussed why cash remains essential to financial freedom and reviewed recent legislative successes and practical strategies for protecting cash through state policy.

Susan Luschas, founder of Team Cash, shared how a grassroots movement can strengthen public awareness and encourage the continued use of cash. She discussed Team Cash's work, South Dakota's successful legislation ensuring that school sporting events accept cash, lessons learned from that legislative campaign, and practical ways individuals can help preserve cash in their own communities.

Idaho Representative Heather Scott discussed the legislation she championed requiring state agencies, including state-funded universities, to accept cash. She explained how the bill came together, the challenges encountered along the way, and what other states can learn from Idaho's success.

If you missed the briefing, or would like to share it with others interested in protecting cash, you can now watch the replay and access the presentation slides here:

https://solari.com/state-leaders-briefing-the-growing-importance-of-the-states-support-of-cash-with-susan-luschas-and-rep-heather-scott/

As we look toward upcoming legislative sessions, now is the time to begin organizing. Whether you are an experienced activist or have never contacted a legislator before, we hope you'll consider joining us to help bring financial freedom legislation to your state.

If you live in New Hampshire, or have friends, family, farmers, or other contacts who do, we have an action item for you. 

HB 396, an important bill supporting New Hampshire's farmers and local food system, has been vetoed by the Governor. The bill would allow a limited number of cattle, swine, sheep, and goats to be processed each month by a farm or producer at a facility that is not USDA-certified, expanding options for small farms and local meat production.

The New Hampshire Legislature will have an opportunity to override the Governor's veto, and the veto override session has been moved up to August 19. 

We encourage New Hampshire residents to contact their state representatives and senators now and ask them to vote to override the Governor's veto of HB 396.

If you don't live in New Hampshire but know someone who does, please forward this information to them and ask them to contact their legislators as well. Personal calls and emails from constituents can make a real difference, particularly when legislators know that their constituents are paying attention.

HB 396 is about giving New Hampshire farmers additional options to process and sell locally raised meat and strengthening the infrastructure needed to keep small farms viable. At a time when farmers are facing increasing economic pressure and consolidation throughout the food system, preserving local processing capacity and direct farm-to-consumer relationships is more important than ever.

Please act before August 19: Contact your New Hampshire state legislators and ask them to override the Governor's veto of HB 396. You can read the bill here: https://gc.nh.gov/house/legislation/billinfo.aspx?id=756&sy=

In freedom,

The Solari Team