TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Mar. 7, 2018) – Today, the Florida Senate approved a measure that would ban warrantless location tracking and the use of stingray devices to sweep up electronic communications in most situations. The new law will not only protect privacy in Florida, but will also hinder one aspect of the federal surveillance state. Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg)…
HONOLULU, Hawaii – (March 6, 2018) – Today, the Hawaii Senate passed a bill to end state cooperation with enforcement of some federal immigration laws. A coalition of three Democrats introduced Senate Bill 2290 (SB2290) in January. The legislation is similar to the TRUST Act passed in California and Connecticut in 2013. The legislation would…
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Mar. 6, 2018) – Today, the Utah House gave final approval to a bill that expands raw milk sales in the state. Final passage into law would take an important step toward rejecting a federal prohibition scheme in effect. Sen. David Hinkins (R-27) and Rep. Marc Roberts (R-67) introduced Senate Bill 108…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (March 6, 2018) – A bill introduced in the California Senate would loosen some regulations on hemp seed and cultivation. Passage of this bill would pave the way for faster development of the state’s hemp market, and further nullify federal prohibition in practice and effect. Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), along with a bipartisan coalition…
BATON ROUGE, La. (March 6, 2018) – Bills prefiled in the Louisiana House and Senate would legalize limited raw milk sales in the state, taking an important step toward effectively nullifying a federal prohibition scheme in effect. Sen. Eric LaFleur (D-Ville Platte) prefiled Senate Bill 188 (SB188) on Feb. 28. Rep. Malinda White (D – Bogalusa) introduced…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (March 5, 2018) – A bill introduced in the Missouri Senate would limit the storage and sharing of information collected using Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in the state. Passage into law would also place significant roadblocks in the way of a federal program using states to help track the location of millions…
BATON ROUGE, La. (March 5, 2018) – A so-called “Constitutional Carry” bill prefiled in the Louisiana House would make it legal for state residents 21 and over to carry a firearm without a license. Passage of the bill would also foster an environment hostile to federal gun control. Rep. Barry Ivey (R-Baton Rouge) prefiled House Bill 412…
ST. PAUL, Minn. (March 4, 2018) – A bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate would help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government regulatory schemes. A coalition of four Republican senators introduced Senate Bill 2723 (SF2723) on Feb. 26. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements) do not constitute insurance, thereby freeing…
LANSING, Mich. (March 2, 2018) – Yesterday, the Michigan House gave final approval to a bill that would ban “material support or resources” for warrantless federal surveillance programs. This represents an essential step states need to take at a time when the federal government seems unlikely to ever end unconstitutional spying on its own. Rep. Martin Howrylak…
Yesterday, the Maryland House passed a bill saying they’d legalize hemp as soon as the federal government (or other federal law) “delegates authority over industrial hemp to the states.” They felt so strongly about this provision they included it two times one section of the bill: The Maryland Department of Agriculture shall notify the Department…