SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 20, 2018) – On Wednesday, a California Assembly committee passed a bill that would require law enforcement agencies in the state to get local governmental approval before acquiring or using military equipment. Passage of the bill into law would set the stage to limit federal programs that militarize local police. Asm. Todd Gloria…
LINCOLN, Neb. (April 19, 2018) – On Wednesday, the Nebraska legislature gave final approval to 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. Sen. Bob Hilkemann (R-Omaha) introduced Legislature Bill 117 (LB117) last year and…
BATON ROUGE, La. (Apr. 19, 2018) – Yesterday, the Louisiana House passed a bill that would make the state’s medical marijuana program permanent. Final passage into law would take a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in effect. Rep. Tanner Magee (R-Houma) introduced House Bill 823 (HB823) on April 3. Under current law, the…
LANSING, Mich. (Apr. 18, 2018) – A bill introduced in the Michigan House would reform asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in most cases. Rep. Pete Lucido (R-Shelby Township) introduced House Bill 5779 (HB5779) on Apr. 11. The legislation would reform Michigan law by requiring a criminal…
JUNEAU, Alaska (April 18, 2018) – Last Friday, Alaska Gov. Bill Walker signed a bill into law legalizing industrial hemp and creating a licensing program for its cultivation in the state. The new law takes another step toward nullifying federal prohibition on the plant in practice. Sen. Shelly Hughes (R) filed Senate Bill 6 (SB6)…
BOSTON, Mass. (April 17, 2018) – Last week, a Massachusetts committee passed a bill that would limit access to, and retention and sharing of, data collected by automatic license plate readers. Passage into law would also place significant roadblocks in the way of a federal program using states to help track the location of millions…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Apr. 13, 2018) – On Monday, a Missouri House committee passed a bill to legalize medical marijuana for qualifying patients, setting the foundation to nullify unconstitutional federal cannabis prohibition in practice. Rep. James Neely (R-Cameron) introduced House Bill 1554 (HB1554) in January. The legislation would expand the state’s “Right to try Law”…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (April 13, 2018) – Yesterday, an Illinois Senate committee passed a bill that would legalize industrial hemp in the state and take a first step toward nullifying federal prohibition of the plant in effect. Sen. Tori Hutchinson (D-Chicago Heights) introduced Senate Bill 2298 (SB2298) in January. The legislation would legalize industrial hemp in…
DES MOINES, Iowa (April 12, 2018) – On Tuesday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law in effect prohibiting so-called “sanctuary cities” that refuse to help enforce some federal immigration laws. Senate Local Government Committee introduced Senate Bill 481 (SF481) on March 7. Under the new law, “a local entity shall not adopt or…
AUGUSTA, Maine (April 12, 2018) – Yesterday, the Maine Senate gave final approval to a bill to implement and regulate the state’s adult-use marijuana market. Final passage of the bill into law would effectuate a ballot initiative legalizing marijuana and further nullify federal cannabis prohibition in effect. Rep. Teresa Pierce (D-Falmouth) and Sen. Roger Katz (R-Augusta)…