Hawaii House Unanimously Passes Bill to Limit Warrantless Drone Surveillance

HONOLULU, Hawaii (March 8, 2017) – Yesterday, the Hawaii House unanimously passed a bill that would limit the warrantless use of surveillance drones. The legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance state. Rep. Joseph Souki introduced House Bill 314 (HB314) on Jan.…

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Alabama Senate Passes Bill to Eliminate Marriage Licenses, Nullify Federal Control in Practice

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (March 8, 2017) – An Alabama bill that would abolish marriage licenses in the state, and effectively nullify in practice both major sides of the contentious national debate over government-sanctioned marriage, overwhelmingly passed the Senate yesterday. Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Bay Minette) filed Senate Bill 20 (SB20) last month. The legislation would abolish all…

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Missouri Committee Passes Bill to Legalize Some Commercial Hemp Farming Despite Federal Ban

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (March 8, 2017) –  On Monday, a second Missouri House committee passed a bill that would remove industrial hemp from the state’s list of controlled substances and create a program for the licensing and regulation of hemp growers and handlers. Passage into law would set the foundation to nullify the unconstitutional federal prohibition…

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Maine Bill Would Encourage use of Gold and Silver as Currency

AUGUSTA, Maine (March 8, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Maine legislature would eliminate the sales tax on precious metals purchases, removing a powerful disincentive for individuals to protect themselves against the disastrous effects of the Federal Reserve. Sen. Eric Brakey (R-Androscoggin), with a bipartisan coalition of four cosponsors, introduced Senate Bill 664 (LD664)…

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New Hampshire House Passes Bill to Prohibit Warrantless Stingray Spying

CONCORD, N.H. (Mar. 8, 2017) – Today, the New Hampshire House passed 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. The proposed law would not only protect privacy in New Hampshire, but would also hinder one aspect…

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Arizona Committee Passes Bill to Treat Gold and Silver as Money, Remove Capital Gains Taxes

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Mar. 8, 2017) – Today, an Arizona Senate Committee passed a bill that would eliminate state capital gains taxes on gold and silver specie, and encourage its use as currency. Final approval of the legislation would help undermine the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. Former US Rep. Ron Paul testified today in the Senate Finance…

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New Mexico Committee Passes Bill to Decriminalize Industrial Hemp; Foundation to Nullify Federal Prohibition

SANTA FE, N.M. (March 8, 2017) – A New Mexico bill that would decriminalize industrial hemp took another step forward last week, passing an important Senate committee. Passage into law would set the stage for the people there to nullify federal prohibition on the plant in practice. Rep. Rick Little (R-Chaparral) introduced House Bill 166 (HB166) on…

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Iowa Senate Committee Passes Bill Taking on Asset Forfeiture; Closes Federal Loophole

DES MOINES, Iowa (March 7, 2017) – On Monday, an Iowa Senate committee unanimously passed a bill that would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in many cases. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by…

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Idaho Committee Passes Bill to Support Sound Money, Undermine Federal Reserve Monopoly

BOISE, Idaho (March 7, 2017) – An Idaho bill that would eliminate state capital gains taxes on gold and silver specie, and encourage its use as currency, passed an important House committee last week. Final approval of the legislation would help undermine the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. House Majority Leader Mike Moyle introduced House…

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Texas Proposal Would Include the Right to Sound Money and Bitcoin in the State Constitution

AUSTIN, Texas (March 7, 2017) – A joint resolution introduced in the Texas House proposes a state constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to own, hold and use any mutually agreed upon medium of exchange. Passage of the bill would take another step toward undermining the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler)…

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