Montana Bill Takes on Warrantless Electronic Data Collection; Would Hinder a Federal Surveillance Program

HELENA, Mont. (Jan. 5, 2017) – A Montana bill would require police to get a warrant in order to obtain electronic communication information from 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 federal surveillance programs. Rep. Daniel Zolnikov…

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New Hampshire Bill Would Set Foundation to End Common Core in the State

CONCORD, N.H. (Jan. 5, 2017) – A bill introduced in the New Hampshire House would prohibit the state department of education and the state board of education from requiring any school or school district to implement the common core standards. Passage of the legislation would take an important step toward nullifying the nationalized education program in…

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Signed as Law: Ohio Takes on Asset Forfeiture, Closes Federal Loophole in Most Situations

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Jan. 5, 2016) – On Wednesday, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed a bill that reforms asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without criminal charges in many cases. The new law also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the…

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New Hampshire Bill Would End Support of Warrantless Federal Spying Programs

CONCORD, N.H. (Jan. 4, 2017) – A New Hampshire bill would end any state cooperation with warrantless federal spying. Passage of the legislation would not only help protect privacy in New Hampshire, it would help hinder unconstitutional federal surveillance. Rep. Neal Kurk and Rep. Carol McGuire, along with two cosponsors, introduced House Bill 171 (HB171). The…

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Indiana Bill Takes on “Policing for Profit” via Asset Forfeiture, Closes Federal Loophole

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Jan. 3, 2017) – A bill filed in the Indiana Senate 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. Sen. Phil Boots…

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New Law: Oregon Takes Step Toward Limiting Drone Surveillance

SALEM, Ore. (Jan. 3, 2017) – On Sunday, an Oregon law went into effect that bans the use of weaponized drones and takes the first step toward limiting data collected by drone surveillance under the current law. The legislation not only establishes important privacy protections at the state level, it will also help thwart the…

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Texas Bill Would Expand Right to Try Act, Further Rejecting Some FDA Restrictions on Personal Choice

AUSTIN, Texas (Jan. 3, 2016) – A bill filed for the 2017 legislative session would expand the Texas “Right to Try” law, setting the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by patients with severe chronic diseases. Rep. Tan Parker (R-Flower Mound) filed House…

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Montana Bill Would Limit ALPR Use, Help Block National License Plate Tracking Program

HELENA, Mont. (Jan. 2, 2017) – A introduced in the Montana House would strictly limit the use of Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in the state, and place significant roadblocks in the way of a federal program using states to help track the location of millions of everyday people through pictures of their license plates.…

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Marijuana Possession and Cultivation Now Officially Legal in Massachusetts; Another Step To Nullify Federal Prohibition

BOSTON, Mass (Jan. 2, 2017) –  On Dec. 15, Massachusetts become the first state on the East Coast to legalize marijuana production and possession for adults. The act is a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition. In November, Massachusetts voters passed Question 4 by a 53 percent majority. The vote sets up a state…

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California Right to Try Act Rejects Some FDA Restrictions on Terminally-Ill Patients

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan 2, 2017) – Yesterday, a California law went into effect that sets the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules denying access to experimental treatments by terminally-ill patients. A massive bipartisan coalition of 29 Assembly members introduced Assembly Bill 1668 (AB1668). The legislation gives terminally-ill patients access to medicines…

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