BOSTON, Mass. (May 27, 2016) – A Massachusetts House committee has passed a bill that would put limitations on the storage and sharing of information collected by law enforcement agencies using Automated License Plate Readers (ALPRs) in the state, and place significant roadblocks in the way of a federal program using states to help track the…
ALBANY, N.Y. (May 27, 2016) – A second New York Assembly committee has passed a bill that would allow customers to opt out of installing “smart meter” technology on their homes and businesses. Final passage of this bill would allow New Yorkers to protect their own privacy, and it would take a step toward blocking…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 26, 2016) – On Monday, the California Assembly passed a bill that would restrict warrantless drone surveillance by state and local law enforcement. If ultimately signed into law, the legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the federal surveillance state. Assemblyman Bill…
TOPEKA, Kan. (May 25, 2016) – Earlier this month, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill into law that halts state efforts to comply with the EPA Clean Power Plan, at least temporarily. Senate Bill 318 (SB318) passed both houses of the Kansas legislature comfortably. It prohibits any state agency from engaging in activities relating…
BATON ROUGE, La. (May 24, 2016) – Yesterday, the Louisiana Senate passed a bill that would expand the state’s current “Right to Try” law. It now goes on to the governor’s desk for his signature. Last year, the Louisiana legislature passed, and the governor signed,“Right to Try” legislation giving terminally ill patients access to medicines…
Bills recently signed into law in two states expand medical marijuana access, further nullifying federal prohibition in practice. Last week, Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy signed House Bill 5450 (HB5450). The new law will effectively expand access to medical marijuana to hospitalized patients. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano reported that the legislation will “protect nurses who…
BATON ROUGE, La. (May 23, 2016) – Today, the Louisiana House gave final approval to a bill that would require a court order for the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications. If Gov. John Bell Edwards signs the bill, it would not only protect privacy in the…
COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 23, 2016) – Last week, an Ohio House committee passed a bill that would reform 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 passing cases off to…
BATON ROUGE, La. (May 23, 2016) – Last week, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill into law that will serve to resurrect the state’s dormant medical marijuana program by making an important technical change to current statute. The move is an essential step for the state to reject the unconstitutional federal prohibition on cannabis in…
JACKSON, Miss. (May 20, 2016) – A financial transparency bill signed into law by Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant will shine the spotlight on state funding used to help enforce federal laws or implement federal programs. It could ultimately set the stage to end state involvement in such federal actions. Sen. Eugene Clarke (R-Hollandale) sponsored Senate…