SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 20, 2018) – On Wednesday, a California Assembly committee passed a bill that would require law enforcement agencies in the state to get local governmental approval before acquiring or using military equipment. Passage of the bill into law would set the stage to limit federal programs that militarize local police. Asm. Todd Gloria…
HB4286 will be coming up for a vote soon in the House State Government Administration Committee.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (Feb. 28, 2018) – A bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate would bar state and local law enforcement agencies from acquiring “military grade weapons” through federal military surplus programs. Sen. Jerry Newton (D-Coon Rapids) introduced Senate Bill 2615 (SF2615) on Feb. 22. The legislation would prohibit a Minnesota state or local unit…
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Jan. 31, 2018) – A bill introduced in the Arizona Senate would require law enforcement agencies to get local government approval before acquiring or using military equipment or surveillance technology. Passage of the legislation would set the stage to limit the surveillance state, along with the impact of federal programs that militarize local…
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Jan. 26, 2018) – A bill introduced in the Maryland House would significantly limit the impact of federal programs that militarize local police. Del. David Moon (D-Montgomery Co.), along with six Democrat cosponsors, introduced House Bill 240 (HB240). The legislation would prohibit police from procuring any of the following equipment from a federal military surplus program.…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill (Jan. 23, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Illinois House would significantly limit the impact of federal programs that militarize local police. Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) introduced House Bill 4286 (HB4286) on Jan. 19. The legislation would prohibit police from procuring any of the following equipment from a federal military surplus program. (1)…
CONCORD, N.H. (Jan. 5, 2018) – A bill introduced in the New Hampshire House would significantly limit the impact of federal programs that militarize local police. Rep. J.R. Hoell (R-Dunbarton) introduced House Bill 1431 (HB1431) on Jan. 3. The legislation would prohibit police from acquiring any military equipped, vehicle or military grade hardware that is…
The state of Texas wants to prosecute a former Austin Police Department detective for using excessive force and killing a man, but the officer has so far avoided prosecution by claiming federal immunity because he was working on a task force organized by the FBI. Austin P.D. Detective Charles Kleinert was investigating another case at…
CONCORD, N.H. (Nov. 30, 2017) – A bill prefiled in the New Hampshire House would ban sobriety checkpoints in the state. The law would not only end constitutionally dubious “searches” in New Hampshire, it would also thwart federal programs that heavily influence state traffic laws. A coalition of five representatives prefiled House Bill 1283 (HB1283)…
CONCORD, N.H. (November 13, 2017) – A bill prefiled in the New Hampshire House would opt the state out of a federal program that facilitates the sale or transfer of certain military equipment from the federal government to state and local law enforcement. A coalition of eight legislators introduced HB1431 (HB1431) for the 2018 session,…