Tennessee Legislature Rejects Strict Restrictions on Asset Forfeiture, Keeps Federal Loophole Wide Open

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 25, 2018) – Last Thursday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill into law that modestly reforms the state’s asset forfeiture laws, but leaves a loophole in place allowing police to circumvent stricter state laws by passing cases off to the feds. Rep. Mike Carter (R-Ooltewah) introduced House Bill 2021 (HB2021) in January.…

Continue ReadingTennessee Legislature Rejects Strict Restrictions on Asset Forfeiture, Keeps Federal Loophole Wide Open

To the Governor: Tennessee Bill Modestly Reforms Asset Forfeiture Laws; Federal Loophole Remains

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 9, 2018) – Last week, the Tennessee Senate passed a bill that modestly reforms the state’s asset forfeiture laws, but leaves a loophole in place allowing police to circumvent stricter state laws by passing cases off to the feds. Rep. Mike Carter (R-Ooltewah) introduced House Bill 2021 (HB2021) in January. The legislation requires…

Continue ReadingTo the Governor: Tennessee Bill Modestly Reforms Asset Forfeiture Laws; Federal Loophole Remains

Tennessee Hearing Highlights Typical Law Enforcement Opposition to Asset Forfeiture Reform

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 13, 2017) – A Nashville bill to reform asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction, and ban prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the feds in most situations, had a committee hearing earlier this month and will soon come up for…

Continue ReadingTennessee Hearing Highlights Typical Law Enforcement Opposition to Asset Forfeiture Reform

Tennessee Bills Take on Asset Forfeiture, Close Federal Loophole in Most Cases

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 7, 2017) –  Bills introduced in the Tennessee legislature would reform 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 in most situations. Rep. Martin…

Continue ReadingTennessee Bills Take on Asset Forfeiture, Close Federal Loophole in Most Cases

Darkness in the Sunshine State: Florida Legislature Helps Feds Keep Status Quo

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Aug. 23, 2016) – Republican dominated leadership in the Florida House and Senate chose to maintain the unconstitutional status quo on multiple issues in 2016, killing a wide variety of bills that would have blocked state enforcement of federal policies. Many of the bills did not even receive votes in their respective chambers.…

Continue ReadingDarkness in the Sunshine State: Florida Legislature Helps Feds Keep Status Quo