CHARLESTON, W. Va. (May 20, 2016) – A law legalizing limited raw milk consumption in West Virginia is now in effect. This represents a first step towards nullifying a federal prohibition scheme in practice. Sen. Robert Karnes (R – Upshur) introduced Senate Bill 387 (SB387) in January. The legislation allows West Virginians to enter into agreements to share…
ALBANY, N.Y. (May 20, 2016) – A bill working its way through the New York legislature would allow customers to opt out of installing “smart meter” technology on their homes and businesses. Passage of this bill would allow New Yorkers to protect their own privacy, and it would take a step towards block a federal…
HARRISBURG, Pa. (May 19, 2016) – A new Pennsylvania law legalizing medical marijuana went into effect this week, but it will likely take up to a year before the system is up and running. Pennsylvania is the 24th state to reject the unconstitutional federal prohibition on cannabis in practice. The bill took a long, tough road to final…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (May 19, 2016) – Yesterday, the Illinois House unanimously 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. It now goes to the governor’s desk.The proposed legislation would not only protect privacy in Illinois, but…
HARRISBURG, Pa. (May 18, 2016) – Yesterday, a Pennsylvania House committee 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. Rep. Robert Godshall (R-Montgomery), along with a coalition of 21 bipartisan co-sponsors, introduced House…
BATON ROUGE, La. (May 18, 2016) – Yesterday, the Louisiana Senate unanimously passed a bill that would require a court order for the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in the state, but would also hinder one aspect…
ATLANTA (May 17, 2016) – Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a bill that would have placed minimal limitations on warrantless drone surveillance in the state. Rep. Kevin Tanner (R-Dawsonville) and a bipartisan coalition of five cosponsors introduced House Bill 779 (HB779) in January. The legislation would have required a warrant before police could engage in…
COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 17, 2016) – A Democratic opponent of a South Carolina bill that would ban state enforcement of any future federal gun control measures recently put his constitutional ignorance on display during a recent Senate committee hearing. H4701 would prohibit South Carolina state agencies from enforcing any federal law, rule, or regulation taking effect…
CONCORD, N.H. (May 16, 2016) – A New Hampshire bill requiring courts to inform juries of their right to vote “not guilty” when “a guilty verdict will yield an unjust result” was killed by the state Senate. House Bill 1270 (HB1270) originally passed in the House but died in the Senate on a voice vote…
CONCORD, N.H. (May 16, 2016) – Three years after New Hampshire voted to legalize medical marijuana, the first dispensaries have finally opened in Plymouth despite federal prohibition. The first dispensary opened April 30. The state Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced last week that two more facilities will open this month. Qualifying patients…