LINCOLN, Neb. (July 20, 2016) – Today, civil asset forfeiture officially ends in Nebraska as reforms to asset forfeiture laws passed in the spring go into effect. Under the new law, the state can no longer take property without a criminal conviction. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing…
PROVIDENCE R.I. (July 18, 2016) – Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo has signed a bill legalizing the production and processing of industrial hemp for commercial purposes in the state, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition in practice. A coalition of five Democrats introduced House Bill 8232 (H8232) on May 19. As introduced, the legislation would…
PHOENIX, Ariz. (July 11, 2016) – The Arizona State House and Senate leadership soundly rejected the principles of the Founding Fathers during the 2016 legislative session. They protected the Washington D.C. status quo by killing 18 bills that would have blocked the federal enforcement of various unconstitutional programs. To make matters worse, most of the…
CONCORD, N.H. (July 6, 2016) – A bill that would have restricted the use of drones by state and local law enforcement died in the New Hampshire legislature after a conference committee failed to reconcile House and Senate versions. The legislation would not only have establish important privacy protections at the state level, they would…
In April, the Tenth Amendment Center reported on a Michigan Senate bill that would have removed the state from Common Core standards. As originally written, it contained provisions explicitly banning Common Core from being re-implemented under a new euphemism. However, a proposed substitute version of the bill would allow a re-branded version of Common Core…
My son was gaming online with a number of what I call his “virtual friends” shortly after it was announced that Britons had voted to leave the European Union (EU). Unbeknowst to my son, many of the players in his RP were British. Upon learning of the outcome of the election, the gamers began to […]
(July 1, 2016) – Today, laws went into effect in three states that set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. Maine, Idaho and Georgia legislatures all passed Right to Try bills this year. The new laws enable terminally…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 1, 2016) – Today, a Tennessee law that will help facilitate healthcare freedom in the Volunteer State went into effect. Sen. Kerry Roberts (R-Springfield) introduced Senate Bill 2443 (SB2443) on Jan. 21. Known as the “Health Care Empowerment Act,” the legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements)…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 1, 2016) – Today, a new Tennessee law setting the foundation to stop enforcement of gun control imposed by international law or treaty goes into effect. House Bill 2389 (HB2389) was introduced by Rep. John Windle (D-Livingston) in January. It prohibits law enforcement officers from enforcing provisions of international law and treaties that…
When it comes to standing up to the Feds, most governors are all talk and no action. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court struck down strict laws regulating abortion clinics in the state of Texas. According to the New York Times, the High Court ” found that Texas’ restrictions — requiring doctors to have admitting…