Today, during a White House meeting, Pres. Trump not only scoffed at the idea of ending unlimited civil asset forfeiture, but even threatened to destroy the career of a state senator in Texas trying to do just that. VIDEO: An overview of the exchange, via Politico: “On asset forfeiture, we’ve got a state senator in…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 7, 2017) – Bills introduced in the Tennessee legislature would reform 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 situations. Rep. Martin…
PHOENIX, Ariz, (Feb. 7, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Arizona Senate 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 the federal…
SANTA FE, N.M. (Feb. 7, 2017) – Last week, an important New Mexico Senate Committee passed a bill known as the Electronic Data Privacy Act. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in New Mexico, but would also hinder at least two aspects of the federal surveillance state. Sen. Peter Wirth (D) and…
ALBANY (Feb. 7, 2017) – Yesterday, the New York state Assembly passed a bill to withdraw state resources from the enforcement of most federal immigration laws. Passage into law will likely have the effect of further nullifying those federal acts in practice and effect. Introduced by Assemblymember Francisco Moya (D-Jackson Heights) and 49 other co-sponsors, Assembly Bill…
HELENA, Mont. (Feb. 7, 2017) – Yesterday, the Montana House passed 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 practical aspect of…
Over at Reason, Damon Root asks, Will Liberals Learn to Love the 10th Amendment? He writes: Liberals today are more likely to view Scalia’s handiwork in a far more favorable light. That’s because Printz now serves as perhaps the single best legal precedent in support of the constitutionality of so-called sanctuary cities—municipalities that either won’t…
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Feb. 6, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Maryland House would the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. Introduced by Del. Karen Young (D-Frederick) and 18 bipartisan co-sponsors, House Bill 584 (HB584) would give terminally ill…
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Feb 6, 2017) – An Arizona bill that would eliminate state capital gains taxes on gold and silver specie, and encourage its use as currency, passed a second important House committee today. Final approval of the legislation would help undermine the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. Rep. Mark Finchem (R-Tucson) introduced House Bill…
CONCORD, N.H. (Feb. 6, 2017) – A New Hampshire House committee unanimously approved a bill that would remove the state ban on industrial hemp, setting the stage to nullify federal prohibition on the plant in practice. A coalition of three representatives and two senators prefiled House Bill 151 (HB151). The legislation would simply remove industrial…