SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2015) – Today, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law not just one, but two bills that represent some of the strongest privacy protections in the country. The new laws work together to protect privacy from some of the worst spying programs on the state level, but also take on a…
TALLAHASSEE, FL. (Oct. 8, 2015) – Last week, a bill was filed in the Florida State House to authorize the farming, production, and sale of industrial hemp in the state, effectively nullifying in practice the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same. Introduced on Oct. 1 by Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (D-Tallahassee), House Bill 271 (H271)…
TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 8, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the Kansas House represents an important first step toward limiting the influence of the federal government in the Sunflower State and could open the door to stopping a wide range of federal programs. Rep. J. R. Claeys (R – Salina) prefiled House Bill 2437 (HB2437)…
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Oct. 6, 2015) – Last week, a coalition of Ohio legislators introduced a bill that would reform 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.…
BOSTON, Oct. 4, 2015 – A bill under consideration in the Massachusetts House would reaffirm the right of jury nullification by explicitly allowing defendants to tell jurors about their ability to nullify unjust or immoral laws. Introduced by Reps. Elizabeth Poirier (R-North Attleboro) and Paul Heroux (D-Attleboro), House Bill 1544 (H1544) would “permit the defendant…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2015) – A California bill that would stop transfers of some battlefield-ready military equipment to state or local law enforcement agencies was given final approval in the state legislature yesterday and now heads to the governor’s desk. Introduced by Asm. Nora Campos (D-San Jose), Assembly Bill 36 (AB36) would unconditionally ban law…
ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 10, 2015) – Last month, a bill was introduced in the New York Assembly that would authorize the farming, production, and sale of industrial hemp in the state, effectively nullifying in practice the federal prohibition on the same. Introduced on Aug. 5 by Asm. Donna Lupardo (D-Bighamton), Assembly Bill 8334 (A8334) sets…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Sept. 8, 2015) – Today, the California Assembly gave final approval to a bill that would protect electronic privacy against warrantless intrusion, sending it to Gov. Brown’s desk for a signature. It works in conjunction with a 2nd bill passed last week to help end bulk spying by “stingrays.” If ultimately signed into…
SPRINGFIELD, Il. (Sept. 8, 2015) – A bill introduced in Illinois last month would authorize marijuana to be taxed and regulated similar to alcohol, legalizing the plant, and effectively nullifying the federal prohibition on the same. House Bill 4276 (HB4276) was introduced on Aug. 25 by Rep. Kenneth Dunkin (D-Chicago). If this bill is successful,…
On Wednesday, the California gave final approval to a bill that would effectively nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that prevent terminally-ill patients from accessing experimental treatments. The vote was 76-2.