The "Utah Legal Tender Act," as the new law is known, "recognizes gold and silver coins that are issued by the federal government as legal tender in the state and exempts the exchange of the coins from certain types of state tax liability," according to the bill. The law does not force anyone to accept or pay in precious metals.
In essence, the bill legalizes currency competition in Utah by removing punitive state taxes on individuals and businesses trading in precious-metal coins. Among the taxes that federally minted gold and silver coins are now exempt from are state sales and capital gains. Federal taxes, however, still apply—despite the U.S. Constitution's clear language stating that no state shall make anything except gold or silver a tender in payment of debts.
On top of the state-tax exemptions, the law also orders the revenue and taxation committee to study the possibility of adopting another form of legal tender for the state. After the study is completed the committee is instructed to offer recommendations and prepare legislation for the 2012 legislative session.