SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 1, 2017) – Today, a California law went into effect that not only bolsters restrictions on state officials from seizing property without due process, but also throws a wrench into federal efforts to do the same. Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) introduced Senate Bill 443 (SB443) in 2015. The new law sets additional…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 1, 2017) – Today, a California law went into effect that not only bolsters restrictions on state officials from seizing property without due process, but also throws a wrench into federal efforts to do the same. Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) introduced Senate Bill 443 (SB443) in 2015. The new law sets additional…
RICHMOND, Va. (Dec. 30, 2016) – A Virginia bill prefiled for the 2017 session would remove sales taxes from some purchases of gold and silver, a first step towards encouraging its regular use as currency and breaking the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. Sen. Frank Wagner (R-Virginia Beach) prefiled Senate Bill 934 (SB934) this week. The…
CONCORD, N.H. (Dec. 28, 2016) – A bill prefiled in the New Hampshire State House for 2017 would require state courts to fully inform jurors of their right to nullify. House Bill 133 (HB133) would require courts to “inform the jury of its right to judge the facts and the application of the law in relation to…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Dec. 27, 2016) – Two South Carolina House bills slated for introduction in 2017 would legalize medical marijuana for qualifying patients in the state, effectively nullifying the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same. Pre-filed by Rep. Todd Rutherford (D-Columbia), House Bill 3128 (H.3128) would allow qualifying medical patients the ability to possess “up…
CONCORD, N.H. (Dec. 27, 2016) – A bill prefiled in the New Hampshire House for the 2017 legislative session would restrict the warrantless or weaponized use of drones by law enforcement. The legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance state. Rep. Neil…
CONCORD, N.H. (Dec. 26, 2016) – A New Hampshire bill prefiled for the 2017 legislative session would remove the state ban on industrial hemp, setting the stage to nullify federal prohibition on the plant in practice. A coalition of three representatives and two senators prefiled House Bill 151 (HB151). The legislation would simply remove industrial…
OLYMPIA, Wash. (Dec. 22, 2016) – A bill filed in the Washington House for the 2017 legislative session would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws by prohibiting the state from taking property without a criminal conviction. But a loophole in the legislation would allow law enforcement to work with the feds to skirt the more stringent state law.…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Dec. 22, 2016) – Two bills prefiled for the 2017 legislative session would repeal a Missouri law prohibiting implementation of the Real ID Act and set the state on a course to participate in an unconstitutional national identification system. Rep. Kevin Corlew (R-Kansas City) prefiled House Bill 151 (HB151) on Dec. 6.…
AUSTIN, Texas (Dec. 21, 2016) – A bill prefiled in the Texas Senate for the 2017 legislative session would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in most cases. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by…