Rhode Island House Committee Passes Right to Try Act to Reject Some FDA Restrictions on Terminal Patients

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (May 2, 2016) – Last Wednesday, a Rhode Island House committee passed a bill that would set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. Introduced by Rep. Joseph McNamara, House Bill 7156 (H7156) would give terminally ill…

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Rhode Island House Committee Holds Hearing on Bill to Limit Warrantless Drone Surveillance

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 30, 2016) – A Rhode Island bill that would restrict the use of drones by state and local law enforcement had its first committee hearing this week. The legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, but would also help thwart the federal surveillance state. Rep. Blake Filippi…

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Rhode Island Bill Would Place Limits on Drones; Hinder Federal Surveillance Program

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (April 20, 2016) – A bill introduced in the Rhode Island House would restrict the use of drones by state and local law enforcement. The legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance state. Rep. Blake Filippi introduced House Bill 8066…

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Rhode Island House Committee Holds Hearing on Stopping Warrantless Stingray Spying

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…

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Hearing Scheduled for Rhode Island Bill to Limit Stingray Use

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Mar. 28, 2016) – On Wednesday, the Rhode Island House Committee on Judiciary will hold 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…

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Rhode Island Bill Would Legalize Hemp; Foundation to Nullify Federal Prohibition in Practice

PROVIDENCE R.I. (March 23, 2016) – A bill introduced in the Rhode Island Senate would legalize 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 four Democrats and a Republican introduced Senate Bill 2763 (S2763) on March 10. Under the…

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Rhode Island Bill Would Require Judicial Order for Stingray Use; Hinder Federal Surveillance Program

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Mar. 2, 2016) – A Rhode Island bill 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 the state, but would also hinder one aspect of the federal surveillance state. Rep.…

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Rhode Island Bill would Legalize Marijuana for Recreational Use, Foundation to Nullify Federal Prohibition

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Mar. 2, 2016) – A bill introduced in the Rhode Island House would legalize marijuana for recreational use. Passage would not only legalize marijuana in the Ocean State, but would also take a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in practice in the state. Rep. Scott Slater (D-10) introduced House Bill 7752…

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Rhode Island Bill would Legalize Raw Milk; Take Step Toward Nullifying Federal Prohibition

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 27, 2016) – A Rhode Island bill would legalize raw milk sales in the state, taking an important step toward effectively nullifying a federal prohibition scheme in effect. A bipartisan coalition of five senators introduced Senate Bill 2092 (S2092) on Jan. 21. The bill would legalize the sale of unpasteurized cow and goat…

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