PHOENIX, Ariz. (Dec. 20, 2015) – Two bills prefiled in the Arizona legislature would effectively nullify federal marijuana prohibition in practice, one by fully legalizing marijuana for recreational usage and the other by decriminalizing the plant. House Bill 2006 (HB2006) and House Bill 2007 (HB2007) were prefiled by Rep. Mark Cardenas (D-Phoenix) this month for…
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Dec. 18, 2015) – A bill filed in the Utah House 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…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Dec. 18, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the Missouri Senate would limit the warrantless use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in the Show-Me, but would also hinder one aspect of the federal surveillance state.…
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2015) – A Kentucky House bill prefiled for 2016 would legalize marijuana for recreational use, taxing and regulating the crop similar to alcohol. The proposal would not only legalize marijuana in the Bluegrass State, it would also take a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in practice in Kentucky. Sen.…
MONTPELIER, Vt. (Dec. 16, 2015) – A privacy bill prefiled in the Vermont Senate would restrict the use of drones by state and local law enforcement, and would also provide some restrictions on sharing of data gathered by automatic license plate readers in the state. The legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Dec. 16, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the Missouri legislature would set the stage to nullify presidential executive orders. Rep. Tim Remole (R-06) prefiled House Bill 1791 (HB1791) on Dec. 11. The bill would require the state general assembly to “adopt and enact any and all measures as may be necessary…
LANSING, Mich. (Dec. 16, 2015) – A bill filed in Michigan yesterday would not only support efforts to turn off water and electricity to NSA facilities in Utah, Texas and other states, but also would have immediate practical effects on federal surveillance programs if passed. Rep. Martin Howrylak, along with 21 cosponsors from both sides of…
TRENTON, NJ. (Dec. 15, 2015) – Last week, a New Jersey Assembly committee passed a bill to authorize the farming, production, and sale of industrial hemp in the state. This bill would effectively nullify in practice the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same. Introduced in Feb. by Asm. Reed Gusciora (D-Mercer), Assembly Bill 2719 (A2719) sets…
CONCORD, N.H. (Dec. 14, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the New Hampshire House would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from obtaining most types of military hardware, thereby rejecting federal militarization of police officers. Rep. J.R. Hoell and seven other representatives have prefiled House Bill 1402 (HB1402). The legislation would prohibit state and…
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Dec. 14, 2015) – A bill introduced in the Ohio Senate would restrict the use of drones by state and local law enforcement. The legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance state. Sen. Michael Skindell (D) and Sen. Kris Jordan…