CONCORD, N.H. (Dec. 14, 2015) –A bill has been filed in the New Hampshire state House that would end mandatory government licensing of marriages in the state, effectively nullifying in practice both major sides of the contentious national debate over government-sanctioned marriage. HB1596 acknowledges the right of two individuals to marry and that because of this “it is…
RICHMOND, Va. (Dec. 11, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the Virginia House for the 2016 legislative session would prohibit state cooperation with the enforcement of any future federal laws, regulations, or executive orders relating to firearms, ammunition or firearms components, effectively nullifying any such acts in practice within the state. Del. Bob Marshall (R…
CONCORD, N.H. (Dec. 10, 2015) – Two bills prefiled in the New Hampshire State House for 2016 would require state courts to fully inform jurors of their right to nullify. House Bill 1270 (HB1270) and House Bill 1333 (HB1333) would require courts to “provide jurors with information regarding the authority of the position of juror.” HB1270…
FRANKFORT Ky. (Dec. 10, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the Kentucky House would take a first step and set the stage to nullify some federal EPA regulations in practice. Rep. Jim Gooch (D-Providence) prefiled HB104 on Dec. 9. The legislation would bar the state Energy and Environmental Cabinet from promulgating any administrative regulations or…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Dec. 10, 2015) – Bills filed in the Florida legislature for the 2016 legislative session would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws, making it more difficult for police to seize property. But a loophole in the legislation would allow law enforcement to work with the feds to skirt the more stringent state law. Sen. Jeffrey…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Dec. 9, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the South Carolina House seeks to nullify the recent Supreme Court opinion recognizing gay marriage. Rep. Bill Chumley (R-Spartanburg) and Rep. Mike Burns (R-Greenville) prefiled House Bill 4513 (H4513) on Dec. 3. The legislation declares “It is the policy of the State of South Carolina to defend…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Dec. 8, 2015) – A bill prefiled for the 2016 legislative session would require the Missouri legislature to review certain federal regulations before they become effective within the state. The bill would set the stage to nullify in practice some federal regulations, but it remains unclear how exactly the law would be…
TALLAHASSEE, FL. (Dec, 7, 2015) – A bill that would allow terminally ill patients access to medicinal marijuana, further nullifying in effect federal prohibition of cannabis, passed unanimously out of a second Senate committee last Thursday. The legislation expands on a recently passed “right to try” law that effectively nullifies in practice some Food and…
JEFFERSON CITY, MO. (Dec. 5, 2015) – This week, a bill was prefiled in the Missouri State Senate to authorize the farming, production, and sale of industrial hemp in the state, effectively nullifying in practice the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same. Prefiled on Dec. 1 for introduction during the 2016 legislative session by Sen.…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Dec. 4, 2015) – Several bills introduced in the South Carolina legislature would end state cooperation with some contentious federal refugee resettlement programs, a significant step towards nullifying them in practice in the state. Legislators have filed five different bills that would limit state cooperation with Syrian refugee resettlement to varying degrees by denying…