TALLAHASSEE, FL. (Oct. 8, 2015) – Last week, a bill was filed in the Florida State House to authorize the farming, production, and sale of industrial hemp in the state, effectively nullifying in practice the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same. Introduced on Oct. 1 by Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (D-Tallahassee), House Bill 271 (H271)…
TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 8, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the Kansas House represents an important first step toward limiting the influence of the federal government in the Sunflower State and could open the door to stopping a wide range of federal programs. Rep. J. R. Claeys (R – Salina) prefiled House Bill 2437 (HB2437)…
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Oct. 6, 2015) – Last week, a coalition of Ohio legislators introduced a bill that would reform asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the feds.…
BOSTON, Oct. 4, 2015 – A bill under consideration in the Massachusetts House would reaffirm the right of jury nullification by explicitly allowing defendants to tell jurors about their ability to nullify unjust or immoral laws. Introduced by Reps. Elizabeth Poirier (R-North Attleboro) and Paul Heroux (D-Attleboro), House Bill 1544 (H1544) would “permit the defendant…
HELENA, Mont. (Oct. 1, 2015) – Today, a law that will heavily diminish the impact of federal programs militarizing local police in Montana went into effect. Introduced by Rep. Nicholas Schwaderer (R-Superior), House Bill 330 (HB330) bans state or local law enforcement from receiving significant classes of military equipment from the Pentagon’s “1033 Program.” It…
RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 30, 2015) – Patients facing life-threatening illnesses will have more treatment options open to them in North Carolina thanks to new a new law that tears down federal roadblocks that goes into effect Thursday. The new “Right to Try” law sets the state to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…
A bill introduced in Michigan last week would authorize marijuana to be taxed and regulated similar to alcohol, legalizing the plant, and effectively nullifying in practice the federal prohibition on the same. House Bill 4877 (HB4877) was introduced on Sept. 17 by Rep. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor) along with six co-sponsors. If this bill is…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Sept. 16, 2015) – In July, Missouri Gov. Nixon signed a bill into law to help promote freedom pertaining to medical services. Passed by a wide margin in both Houses this year, House Bill 769 (HB769), sponsored by Rep. Keith Frederick, states that medical retainer agreements – in which the person pays in…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Sept. 11, 2015) – A California bill that would stop transfers of some battlefield-ready military equipment to state or local law enforcement agencies was given final approval in the state legislature yesterday and now heads to the governor’s desk. Introduced by Asm. Nora Campos (D-San Jose), Assembly Bill 36 (AB36) would unconditionally ban law…
ALBANY, N.Y. (Sept. 10, 2015) – Last month, a bill was introduced in the New York Assembly that would authorize the farming, production, and sale of industrial hemp in the state, effectively nullifying in practice the federal prohibition on the same. Introduced on Aug. 5 by Asm. Donna Lupardo (D-Bighamton), Assembly Bill 8334 (A8334) sets…