BOSTON, Mass. (March 19, 2018) – Two bills pending in the Massachusetts legislature would expand raw milk sales in the state. Passage into law would take an important step toward rejecting a federal prohibition scheme in effect. Sen. Anne Gobi (D-Spencer) introduced Senate Bill 442 (S442) in January 2017. Rep. Paul A. Schmid, III (D-Bristol) introduced…
TOPEKA, Kan. (March 18, 2018) – Last week, a Kansas Senate committee passed a bill that would exempt gold and silver bullion, and other precious metals, from sales tax, encouraging their use and taking the first step toward breaking the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. The Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee introduced Senate Bill 437 (SB437) on…
ATLANTA, Ga. (March 16, 2018) – A bill introduced in the Georgia House would help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government insurance regulatory schemes. Rep. Sam Teasley (R-Marietta) introduced House Bill 1051 (HB1051) on March 12. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements) do not constitute insurance, thereby freeing doctors and patients…
ST PAUL, Minn. (March 16, 2018) – Bills introduced in the Minnesota legislature would reform the state’s 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 in most…
CONCORD, N.H. (March 16, 2018) – Yesterday, the New Hampshire House overwhelmingly 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…
CONCORD, N.H. (March 15, 2018) – Today, the New Hampshire House passed a bill that would require courts to fully inform juries of their right to vote “not guilty” when “a guilty verdict will yield an unjust result.” A coalition of eight Republican representatives introduced House Bill 1443 (HB1443) on Jan. 3. The legislation would amend…
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (March 15, 2018) – Yesterday, the Maryland House passed a bill that would ban the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones without a court order and prohibit police from sweeping up electronic communications. Passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in Maryland, it would also hinder one aspect of the federal surveillance…
DES MOINES, Iowa (March 14, 2018) – Yesterday, an Iowa Senate committee passed a bill that would help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government insurance regulatory schemes. The House of Delegates Human Resources Committee introduced House Bill 2356 (HF2356) on Feb. 14. It replaced HF2275 sponsored by Rep. David Heaton (R-Mt. Pleasant). The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements…
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (March 12, 2018) – Last week, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill into law exempting the sale of gold and silver bullion from state sales and use tax, encouraging its use and taking the first step toward breaking the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence) introduced Senate Bill 156…
FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 12, 2018) – On Friday, the Kentucky House gave final approval to a bill that would require police to get a warrant before engaging in drone surveillance in most situations. If signed into law, this legislation would not only establish important privacy protections at the state level, it would also help thwart the…