Signed by the Governor: Iowa Right to Try Act Rejects Some FDA Restrictions on Terminal Patients

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 15, 2017) – Last week, Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a bill into law setting the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. The Senate Commerce Committee sponsored Senate Bill 404 (SF404) on March 1. The…

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Massachusetts Bills Take on Asset Forfeiture, Close Federal Loophole

BOSTON, Mass. (May 15, 2017) – Bills introduced in the Massachusetts House and Senate would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in most cases.The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the…

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Louisiana Committee Passes Bill to Expand Right to Try Act, Further Reject Some FDA Restrictions

BATON ROUGE, La. (May 11, 2017) – On Wednesday, a Louisiana House committee unanimously passed a bill that would expand the state’s Right to Try law to include technology designed to help ALS patients with mobility. Passage into law would set the foundation to nullify in practice a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that…

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Texas House Votes to Expand Right to Try Act; Further Reject Some FDA Restrictions on Personal Choice

AUSTIN, Texas (May 14, 2017) – On Friday, the Texas House unanimously passed a bill that would expand the Texas “Right to Try” law, setting the foundation to nullify in practice additional Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by patients with severe chronic diseases. Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound)…

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Delaware Committee Passes Bill to Legalize Marijuana; Foundation to Nullify Federal Prohibition

DOVER, Del. (May 14, 2017) – On Wednesday, a Delaware Assembly committee passed a bill to legalize marijuana for recreational use, taking a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in practice. House Bill 110 (HB110) was introduced by Rep. Helene Keeley (D-South Wilmington) and 13 co-sponsors. The legislation would legalize marijuana under a tax-and-regulate…

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Texas House Passes Legislation to Facilitate Use of Bullion Depository

AUSTIN, Texas (May 14, 2017) – On Wednesday, the Texas House unanimously passed a proposed state constitutional amendment that would authorize the legislature to exempt precious metals held in the Texas Bullion Depository from ad valorem taxation. Passage of the amendment would take another step toward the everyday use of gold and silver in financial transactions…

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Missouri House Passes Bill to Prohibit Warrantless Stingray Spying

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (May 12, 2017) – Today, the Missouri House passed a bill that would ban the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant in most situations.The proposed law would not only protect privacy in the Show Me State, but would also hinder one…

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New York Bill Would Help Protect Privacy, Thwart Some Federal Surveillance

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 12, 2017) –  A New York electronic data protection bill would ban the use “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant, and end warrantless collection of cell phone data in most situations. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in New York,…

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Alabama Committee Passes Bill to End Common Core in the State

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (May 11, 2017) – A state Senate committee has passed bill that would end the use of Common Core in Alabama schools. Sen. Harri Anne Smith (I-Slocomb) introduced Senate Bill 415 (SB415) on May 5. The legislation would void Common Core standards and create a framework to establish state standards to replace them. The…

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