TOPEKA, Kan. (April 6, 2018) – Last Monday, Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer signed a bill into law implementing strict reporting requirements for all asset forfeitures in the state. The bill takes a first step that could lead to substantive reforms. The Committee on Judiciary introduced House Bill 2459 (HB2459) on Jan. 11. The new law requires…
On April 4, I appeared on Suzanne Sherman’s show The Wasatch Report. We talked about how state action can limit the scope of the federal government, focusing specifically on the Second Amendment, dispelled the persistent myth of absolute federal supremacy and talked about why you shouldn’t count on lawyers to tell you what the Constitution…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 5, 2018) – On Tuesday, a California Senate committee unanimously passed a bill that would loosen some regulations on hemp seed and cultivation. Passage of this bill would pave the way for faster development of the state’s hemp market, and further nullify federal prohibition in practice and effect. Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), along…
MADISON, Wisc. (April 4, 2018) – Yesterday, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill into law that reforms the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in most situations. The legislation also takes a small, but important step toward closing a federal loophole that allows police to…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (April 4, 2018) – Yesterday, the Missouri House passed a bill that would prohibit most abortions after 20 weeks, defying a Supreme Court opinion prohibiting states from regulating abortions before 24 weeks. Rep. Donna Lichtenegger (R-Cape Girardeau) introduced House Bill 1266 (HB1266) on Jan. 3. The legislation would prohibit abortions after the fetus…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 4, 2018) – On Tuesday, a California Senate committee passed a bill that would increase oversight and transparency of law enforcement surveillance technology. Passage of the bill would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and feed into a broader national surveillance…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 3, 2018) – Last week, a South Carolina Senate committee passed a bill that would legalize medical marijuana for qualifying patients in the state, setting the foundation to nullify unconstitutional federal cannabis prohibition in practice. A coalition of four Democrats and two Republicans introduced Senate Bill 212 (S212) on Jan 10. The legislation would…
TRENTON, N.J. (April 2, 2018) – A bill introduced in the New Jersey House would phase out vaccines containing mercury and push back against federal narratives on vaccinations. Representative Valerie Huttle (D-37) introduced Assembly Bill 3569 (A3569) on March 12. The legislation would phase out the use of vaccines that contain mercury over a three-year period. Under…
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (April 2, 2018) – Last month, Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead signed a bill into law to exempt cryptocurrency from property taxes. The new law will help expand the of use digital currency and could ultimately undermine the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. A bipartisan coalition of six senators and representatives introduced Senate Bill 111 (SF111)…
Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution prohibited paper money at both a Congressional and state level.