TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Feb. 14, 2018) – Yesterday, a second Florida Senate committee 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…
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (Feb 14, 2018) – Yesterday, an Oklahoma Senate committee unanimously passed a bill that would ban the warrantless collection of electronic data and the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications in most situations. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in the…
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (Feb 14, 2018) – The Utah House has passed two bills that would allow terminally ill patients to legally use medical marijuana under the state’s Right to Try law. Final passage would take a first step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in effect in the Beehive State. Rep. Brad Daw (R-Orem)…
DES MOINES, Iowa (Feb. 14, 2018) – An Iowa House subcommittee has approved a bill that would help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government insurance regulatory schemes. Rep. David Heaton (R-Mt. Pleasant) introduced House Bill 2275 (HF2275) on February 7. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements) do not constitute insurance,…
JUNEAU, Alaska (Feb. 13, 2018) – An Alaska House committee has passed a bill to legalize industrial hemp and creating a licensing program for its cultivation in the state, taking the first step toward nullifying federal prohibition on the plant in practice. Sen. Shelly Hughes (R) filed Senate Bill 6 (SB6) last year and it…
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Feb. 13, 2018) – A bill filed in the Maryland House would allow customers to opt out of installing “smart meter” technology on their homes and businesses without penalty. Passage of this bill would enable Marylanders to protect their own privacy, and it would take a step toward blocking a federal program in effect.…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2018) – California plans to take on Trump administration efforts to expand offshore oil drilling by blocking the transportation of petroleum through the state. According to a Reuters report, California officials say they plan to deny pipeline permits for transporting oil from new leases off the Pacific coast. Last month, the…
BOSTON, Mass. (Feb. 12, 2018) – Today, a Massachusetts committee passed a bill that would put strict limitations on the use of automated license plate reader systems (ALPRs) by 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 of everyday…
Under the proposed law, police will be required to get a court order or warrant before deploying a stingray device in most situations.
MADISON, Wisc. (Feb. 12, 2018) – Two Wisconsin bills that would help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government insurance regulatory schemes have passed their respective committees. Rep. Joe Sanfelippo (R-New Berlin), along with a bipartisan coalition of 32 cosponsors, introduced Assembly Bill 798 (AB798) on Dec. 28. A companion bill in the Senate (SB670) was introduced…