Utah House Rejects Fully Informed Jury Bill

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (March 15, 2017) – A Utah bill that would have required state courts to fully inform jurors of their right to use discretion in rendering verdicts died in the state House earlier this month. Rep. Mark Roberts (R-67) introduced House Bill 332 (HB332) on Feb. 9. The legislation would have required…

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To the Governor: West Virginia Gives Final Approval to Bill to Expand Health Freedom

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Mar. 15, 2017) – Today, the West Virginia House gave final approval to a bill that would help facilitate healthcare freedom without federal government regulation. Del. Joel Ellington (R-Princeton) and Del. Amy Summers (R-Flemington) introduced House Bill 2301 (HB2301) on Feb. 9. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical…

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Maine Bill Takes on Asset Forfeiture; Closes Federal Loophole

AUGUSTA, Maine (March 15, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Maine legislature would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the feds in most…

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Texas Bill Would Allow People to Opt Out of Smart Meters, Undermine Federal Program

AUSTIN, Texas (March 15, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Texas House would allow utility customers to opt out of installing “smart meter” technology on their homes and businesses. Passage of this bill would allow Texans to protect their own privacy, and it would take a step toward blocking a federal program in effect.…

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New Mexico House Passes Bill to Reject Some FDA Restrictions on Terminal Patients

SANTE FE, N.M. (March 15, 2017) – A New Mexico bill that would set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients unanimously passed the House last week. Introduced by Rep. Rebecca Dow (R-Grant), House Bill 228 (HB228) would give…

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