RICHMOND, Va. (April 11, 2018) – Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam has signed a bill into law implementing reporting requirements for all asset forfeitures in the state, including cases passed off to the federal government. The bill takes the first step that could lead to substantive reforms. Sen. Mark Peake (R) and Sen. Adam Ebbin (D)…
CONCORD, N.H. (April 11, 2018) – Yesterday, a New Hampshire Senate committee passed a bill that would prohibit the release of any information from the state’s medical marijuana registry to the federal government without a warrant. Passage of the legislation would take another small step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in effect. A coalition of…
BATON ROUGE, La. (Apr. 10, 2018) – Last week, two bills that would relax restrictions on medical marijuana for qualifying patients in the state moved forward in the legislature. One bill was approved by the House, another by a House committee. Final passage of these bills would further nullify federal drug laws in the Pelican…
DENVER, Colo. (April 10, 2018) – Yesterday, the Colorado House passed a bill that would expand asset forfeiture reporting requirements instituted last year. Rep. Leslie Herod (D-Denver) introduced House Bill 1020 (HB1020) on Jan. 10. The legislation would expand asset forfeiture reporting requirements be redefining the agencies required to submit reports. Last year, Gov. John Hickenlooper signed…
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (April 9, 2018) – Last week, the Tennessee Senate passed a bill that modestly reforms the state’s asset forfeiture laws, but leaves a loophole in place allowing police to circumvent stricter state laws by passing cases off to the feds. Rep. Mike Carter (R-Ooltewah) introduced House Bill 2021 (HB2021) in January. The legislation requires…
TOPEKA, Kan. (April 6, 2018) – Last Monday, Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer signed a bill into law implementing strict reporting requirements for all asset forfeitures in the state. The bill takes a first step that could lead to substantive reforms. The Committee on Judiciary introduced House Bill 2459 (HB2459) on Jan. 11. The new law requires…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 5, 2018) – On Tuesday, a California Senate committee unanimously passed a bill that would loosen some regulations on hemp seed and cultivation. Passage of this bill would pave the way for faster development of the state’s hemp market, and further nullify federal prohibition in practice and effect. Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita), along…
MADISON, Wisc. (April 4, 2018) – Yesterday, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill into law that reforms the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in most situations. The legislation also takes a small, but important step toward closing a federal loophole that allows police to…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (April 4, 2018) – Yesterday, the Missouri House passed a bill that would prohibit most abortions after 20 weeks, defying a Supreme Court opinion prohibiting states from regulating abortions before 24 weeks. Rep. Donna Lichtenegger (R-Cape Girardeau) introduced House Bill 1266 (HB1266) on Jan. 3. The legislation would prohibit abortions after the fetus…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 4, 2018) – On Tuesday, a California Senate committee passed a bill that would increase oversight and transparency of law enforcement surveillance technology. Passage of the bill would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and feed into a broader national surveillance…