MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Feb. 15, 2018) – Yesterday, an Alabama House committee approved a bill that would exempt the sale of gold and silver bullion from state sales and use tax, encouraging its use and taking the first step toward breaking the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence) introduced Senate Bill 156 (SB156) on…
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Feb 15, 2018) – Yesterday, a Utah Senate committee passed a bill would expand raw milk sales in the state. Passage into law would take an important step toward rejecting a federal prohibition scheme in effect. Sen. David Hinkins (R-27) and Rep. Marc Roberts (R-67) introduced Senate Bill 108 (SB108) January 23. The…
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Feb 15, 2018) – On Tuesday, the Washington House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would improve the state’s asset forfeiture laws and set the stage to close a loophole that allows state and local police to circumvent more strict state forfeiture laws by passing cases off to the feds. Rep. Matt Shea (R-Spokane Valley)…
LINCOLN, Neb. (Feb. 15, 2018) – Yesterday, Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a bill into law that puts limitations on the storage and sharing of information collected by Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) by law enforcement in the state, and places significant roadblocks in the way of a federal program using states to help track…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Feb. 14, 2018) – On Monday, a second Missouri House committee overwhelmingly passed a bill to decriminalize industrial hemp, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition of the plant in practice. Rep. Paul Curtman (R-Washington) introduced House Bill 2034 (HB2034) on Jan. 10. The legislation would decriminalize industrial hemp in the state…
Avoiding national debt was one of George Washington’s greatest admonitions yet neither liberals nor conservatives have paid much attention to it. It would be well to reflect on his advice this President’s Day. The trillion dollar Republican proposal will raise overall spending caps by about $300 billion over the next two years and will make…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2018) – Yesterday, a second Florida Senate committee approved a measure that would ban warrantless location tracking and the use of stingray devices to sweep up electronic communications in most situations. The new law will not only protect privacy in Florida, but will also hinder one aspect of the federal surveillance state. Sen. Jeff Brandes…
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Feb 14, 2018) – Yesterday, an Oklahoma Senate committee unanimously passed a bill that would ban the warrantless collection of electronic data and the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications in most situations. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in the…
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Feb 14, 2018) – The Utah House has passed two bills that would allow terminally ill patients to legally use medical marijuana under the state’s Right to Try law. Final passage would take a first step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in effect in the Beehive State. Rep. Brad Daw (R-Orem)…
DES MOINES, Iowa (Feb. 14, 2018) – An Iowa House subcommittee has approved a bill that would help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government insurance regulatory schemes. Rep. David Heaton (R-Mt. Pleasant) introduced House Bill 2275 (HF2275) on February 7. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements) do not constitute insurance,…