Arizona Committee Passes Bill to Legalize Industrial Hemp

PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 16, 2017) – Today, an Arizona House committee passed a bill to legalize the production and processing of industrial hemp for commercial purposes, rejecting the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same. Sen. Sonny Borrelli (R-Lake Havasu City) introduced Senate Bill1337 (SB1337) on Jan. 31. Under the proposed law, industrial hemp would be treated…

Continue ReadingArizona Committee Passes Bill to Legalize Industrial Hemp

Arizona Committee Passes Bill to Prohibit Warrantless Stingray Spying

PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 16, 2017) – Yesterday, an Arizona House Committee unanimously 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 Arizona, but would also hinder one aspect of…

Continue ReadingArizona Committee Passes Bill to Prohibit Warrantless Stingray Spying

Oregon Bill Would Require Courts to Fully-Inform Juries

SALEM, Ore. (March 16, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Oregon Senate would require state courts to fully inform jurors of their right to use discretion when rendering verdicts in felony trials. Sen. Kim Thatcher (R – Keizer) introduced Senate Bill 924 (SB924) on March 2. The legislation would require the court to instruct…

Continue ReadingOregon Bill Would Require Courts to Fully-Inform Juries

Nevada Bill Would Set Stage to Expand Healthcare Freedom

CARSON CITY, Nevada (March 16, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Nevada Senate would help facilitate healthcare freedom and set the stage to nullify federal programs, like Obamacare, in practice. Sen. Patricia Farley (R-Las Vegas) introduced Senate Bill 208 (SB208) on Feb. 27. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer…

Continue ReadingNevada Bill Would Set Stage to Expand Healthcare Freedom

To the Governor: Montana Passes Bill Taking on Warrantless Electronic Data Collection

00HELENA, Mont. (March 16, 2017) – Today, the Montana House gave final approval to a bill that would require police to get a warrant in order to obtain electronic communication information from service providers in most cases. Passage of the legislation would not only increase privacy protections in the state, it would also hinder one…

Continue ReadingTo the Governor: Montana Passes Bill Taking on Warrantless Electronic Data Collection

Iowa Senate Passes Right to Try Act to Reject Some FDA Restrictions on Terminal Patients

DES MOINES, Iowa (March 16, 2017) – On Tuesday, the Iowa Senate unanimously passed a bill that would set 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 introduced Senate Bill 404 (SF404) on March 1. The…

Continue ReadingIowa Senate Passes Right to Try Act to Reject Some FDA Restrictions on Terminal Patients

Utah House Rejects Fully Informed Jury Bill

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (March 15, 2017) – A Utah bill that would have required state courts to fully inform jurors of their right to use discretion in rendering verdicts died in the state House earlier this month. Rep. Mark Roberts (R-67) introduced House Bill 332 (HB332) on Feb. 9. The legislation would have required…

Continue ReadingUtah House Rejects Fully Informed Jury Bill

To the Governor: West Virginia Gives Final Approval to Bill to Expand Health Freedom

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Mar. 15, 2017) – Today, the West Virginia House gave final approval to a bill that would help facilitate healthcare freedom without federal government regulation. Del. Joel Ellington (R-Princeton) and Del. Amy Summers (R-Flemington) introduced House Bill 2301 (HB2301) on Feb. 9. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical…

Continue ReadingTo the Governor: West Virginia Gives Final Approval to Bill to Expand Health Freedom

Maine Bill Takes on Asset Forfeiture; Closes Federal Loophole

AUGUSTA, Maine (March 15, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Maine legislature would reform the state’s 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 in most…

Continue ReadingMaine Bill Takes on Asset Forfeiture; Closes Federal Loophole