LINCOLN, Neb. (April 14, 2016) – Yesterday, the Nebraska Senate gave final approval to a bill that 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…
Thomas Jefferson used hemp and grew hemp. He advocated for it as well. Today’s federal government has a near ban on growing this important crop, and has maintained that unconstitutional ban for decades. States, however, are slowly moving to legalize the crop with or without federal permission. While we’ve not been able to find an…
JACKSON, Miss. (April 13, 2016) – Today, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill into law expanding the state’s current “Right to Try” Act. Last year, the Mississippi legislature passed, and the governor signed,“Right to Try” legislation giving terminally ill patients access to medicines not yet given final approval for use by the FDA. Earlier…
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (April 13, 2016) – Today, an Alabama House committee overwhelmingly passed a bill that would take the first step toward blocking federal gun control in the Yellowhammer State. Rep. Ed Henry (R-Decatur) introduced House Bill 437 (HB437) on March 17. The legislation asserts all federal acts, laws, orders, rules, or regulations regarding firearms…
Today in history: Thomas Jefferson was born on Apr. 13, 1743. Known as the principle author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson’s other “declaration” is not as well-known. That is, the Kentucky Resolutions of 1798. In his original draft of the Resolutions, he wrote: “Where powers are assumed which have not been…
CHARLESTON, W. Va. (Apr. 13, 2015) – West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has vetoed a bill to remove the state from any standardized testing related to Common Core. But efforts elsewhere show a path forward even without a veto override. House Bill 4014 (HB4014) was introduced by Del. Jim Butler (R-Mason) and 10 co-sponsors. As originally…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 12, 2016) – On Monday, the Tennessee legislature gave final approval to a bill that would help facilitate healthcare freedom. It now goes to Gov. Bill Haslam for his signature. Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield) introduced Senate Bill 2443 (SB2443) on Jan. 21. Known as the “Health Care Empowerment Act,” the legislation specifies…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Apr. 12, 2016) – Yesterday, the Missouri House passed a bill to authorize the growth and production sale of industrial hemp for commercial purposes by larger producers. Passage into law would represent a foundation to nullify the unconstitutional federal prohibition in practice. Introduced by Rep. Paul Curtman, House Bill 2038 (HB2038) designates industrial hemp as…
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 12, 2016) – On March 30, the Rhode Island House Committee on Judiciary held a crucial hearing on a bill that would require a judicial order for the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 11, 2016) – A bill that would expand the hemp industry in Tennessee passed the House last week. The measure would open the door to in-state processing of hemp products, paving the way for faster development of the state’s hemp market, and further nullifying federal prohibition in effect. Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby) introduced…