A few months ago, local media reported that the Oklahoma Highway Patrol is using a device that allows officers to electronically confiscate money on prepaid cards based on mere suspicion rather than a criminal conviction. The revelation underscores the importance of asset forfeiture reform, something the Oklahoma legislature unsuccessfully tried to do last session. The…
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.…
The legislature effectively killed 21 bills that would have blocked the federal enforcement of unconstitutional policies. To make matters worse, the vast majority of the bills did not even receive a vote in their respective chambers.
At least two states will consider bills in the upcoming legislative session that would take a small, but important, first step in setting the stage to nullify federal EPA rules and regulations. Legislation in both Virginia and Florida would essentially insert another layer into the state process involved in adopting plans to address EPA emission…
OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 6, 2015) – A bill up for consideration when the Oklahoma state legislature returns from recess in Feb. 2016 would reform asset forfeiture laws by prohibiting the state from taking property without a criminal conviction. But it leaves open a big loophole that would allow the practice to continue under federal forfeiture programs. Introduced by…