OKLAHOMA CITY (March 10, 2016) – An Oklahoma bill that would significantly limit drone surveillance in the state, and also serve to thwart one aspect of the federal surveillance state, passed the House on Tuesday. Rep. Paul Wesselhoft introduced House Bill 2337 (HB2337), titled the Oklahoma Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Act. The bill requires law enforcement to…
PROVIDENCE, N.H. (March 9, 2016) – The New Hampshire House has passed a bill that would require courts to inform juries of their right to vote “not guilty” when “a guilty verdict will yield an unjust result.” A coalition of nine representatives, led by Rep. Daniel Itse, introduced House Bill 1270 (HB1270) in January. The legislation would…
A bill that would set the stage for the state to refuse cooperation with federal acts passed an important Senate committee today with an amendment that would make the proposed law more likely to be implemented in practice.
BATON ROUGE, La. (March 2, 2016) – A bill under consideration in the Louisiana Senate would legalize limited raw milk sales in the state, taking an important step toward effectively nullifying a federal prohibition scheme in effect. Sen. Eric LaFleur (D-Ville Platte) introduced Senate Bill 29 (SB29) on Feb. 25. The legislation would allow farmers…
ATLANTA (Mar. 1, 2016) – A Georgia bill that would restrict warrantless drone surveillance by state and local law enforcement passed the state House yesterday. The legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance state. A bipartisan coalition of five representatives introduced House Bill…
PHOENIX, Ariz. – (Feb. 29, 2016) – Today, the Arizona House passed a bill to prohibit the state from using personnel or resources to enforce any new federal gun control measures, setting the foundation to nullify them in practice within the state. The vote was 35-24. Rep. Anthony Kern (R-Glendale), Rep. Darin Mitchell (R-Dist. 13) and Rep. Steve…
SALEM, Ore. (Feb. 29, 2016) – An Oregon bill that would relax state hemp licensing laws, making the crop more like other agricultural products, cleared another hurdle Friday, unanimously the state Senate. The measure opens up hemp to small and individual farmers, paving the way for faster development of Oregon’s hemp market, and further nullifying federal…
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Feb. 26, 2016) – A Utah bill that would legalize medical marijuana and nullify in practice the unconstitutional federal prohibition of the same passed the state Senate yesterday. Sen. Mark Madsen (R-Saratoga Springs) introduced Senate Bill 73 (SB73) last month. The legislation sets up a framework that would allow qualifying patients to…
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Feb. 26, 2016) – A Vermont bill that would legalize small amounts of marijuana for recreational use and create a framework for cultivation and retail sales passed the Senate yesterday. If ultimately signed into law, the legislation would take a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in practice in Vermont. Sen. Jeanette…
DES MOINES, Iowa (Feb. 26, 2016) – An Iowa bill that would reform asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction unanimously passed an important Senate committee this week. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to…