Signed by the Governor: New West Virginia Law Expands Health Freedom

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Mar. 24, 2017) – West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has signed bill into law that will help facilitate healthcare freedom without federal government regulation. Del. Joel Ellington (R-Princeton) and Del. Amy Summers (R-Flemington) introduced House Bill 2301 (HB2301) on Feb. 9. The new law specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical…

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Signed by the Governor: Arizona Free Speech in Medicine Act Sets Stage to Nullify FDA Law

PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 24, 2017) – Earlier this week,  Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill into law that allows pharmaceutical companies to talk to healthcare providers about alternative uses for approved drugs despite FDA prohibition of such communication. The law sets the stage to nullify the federal law in effect. Rep. Phil Lovas (R-Peoria)…

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Arizona Senate Committee Passes Bill Taking on State, Federal Asset Forfeiture

PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 23, 2017) – Today, an Arizona Senate committee voted unanimously to pass a bill reforming the state’s asset forfeiture laws. The bill also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the feds in most situations. Rep. Eddie Farnsworth (R-Gilbert) introduced House Bill…

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South Dakota Republicans Kill Bill to Legalize Industrial Hemp, Reject Unconstitutional Federal Ban

PIERRE, S.D. (Mar. 23, 2017) – A South Dakota bill that would have legalized the production and processing of industrial hemp for commercial purposes, and set the foundation to end federal prohibition in practice, was killed by a Senate committee. The Committee on State Affairs introduced House Bill 1204 (HB1204) on Feb. 3. Under the…

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Illinois Committee Passes Bill Taking on Asset Forfeiture, Closing Federal Loophole

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (March 22, 2017) – Yesterday, an Illinois House committee passed a bill that would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in some situations. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off…

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Michigan Committee Passes Ballot Measure to Help Protect Electronic Data from Warrantless Spying

LANSING, Mich. (March 22, 2017) – Yesterday, a Michigan House committee passed a resolution that would put before voters a state constitutional amendment to protect electronic communications and data from the prying eyes of state and local law enforcement. The amendment would also effectively block a small but intrusive practical effect of federal spying within…

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Washington Senate Committee Passes Bill to Decriminalize Industrial Hemp

OLYMPIA, Wash. (Mar. 22, 2017) – Today, a Washington Senate committee unanimously passed a bill that would remove industrial hemp from the state’s “controlled substances” list. Passage into law would set the stage for people in the Evergreen State to nullify federal prohibition on the plant in practice. Rep. Matt Shea (R-Spokane Valley) and a…

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Final Arizona Committee Passes Bill to Prohibit Warrantless Stingray Spying

PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 22, 2017) – On Monday, a bill that would ban the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant in most situations cleared its final committee. The proposed law would not only protect privacy in Arizona, but would also hinder one aspect of the…

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Republican Oklahoma Governor Betrays Constitution, Signs Law Implementing REAL ID

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (March 22, 2017) – Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin (R) has signed a bill into law implementing the federal REAL ID Act in the state, overturning a decade-old law prohibiting participation in the national ID program. House Bill 1845 (HB1845) was sponsored by six Republicans and one Democrat. It passed the state House…

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Maryland House Passes Right to Try Act to Reject Some FDA Restrictions on Terminal Patients

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 21, 2017) – Yesterday, the Maryland House unanimously 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 Del. Karen Young (D-Frederick) and 18 bipartisan co-sponsors, House Bill 584 (HB584) would…

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