MONTGOMERY, Ala. (March 8, 2017) – An Alabama bill that would abolish marriage licenses in the state, and effectively nullify in practice both major sides of the contentious national debate over government-sanctioned marriage, overwhelmingly passed the Senate yesterday. Sen. Greg Albritton (R-Bay Minette) filed Senate Bill 20 (SB20) last month. The legislation would abolish all…
NEW YORK, N.Y. (March 8, 2017) – The New York City Council will consider an ordinance that 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 state. Council member Dan Garodnick introduced the Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology Act…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (March 8, 2017) – On Monday, a second Missouri House committee passed a bill that would remove industrial hemp from the state’s list of controlled substances and create a program for the licensing and regulation of hemp growers and handlers. Passage into law would set the foundation to nullify the unconstitutional federal prohibition…
AUGUSTA, Maine (March 8, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Maine legislature would eliminate the sales tax on precious metals purchases, removing a powerful disincentive for individuals to protect themselves against the disastrous effects of the Federal Reserve. Sen. Eric Brakey (R-Androscoggin), with a bipartisan coalition of four cosponsors, introduced Senate Bill 664 (LD664)…
CONCORD, N.H. (Mar. 8, 2017) – Today, the New Hampshire House 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. The proposed law would not only protect privacy in New Hampshire, but would also hinder one aspect…
PHOENIX, Ariz. (Mar. 8, 2017) – Today, an Arizona Senate Committee passed a bill that would eliminate state capital gains taxes on gold and silver specie, and encourage its use as currency. Final approval of the legislation would help undermine the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. Former US Rep. Ron Paul testified today in the Senate Finance…
SANTA FE, N.M. (March 8, 2017) – A New Mexico bill that would decriminalize industrial hemp took another step forward last week, passing an important Senate committee. Passage into law would set the stage for the people there to nullify federal prohibition on the plant in practice. Rep. Rick Little (R-Chaparral) introduced House Bill 166 (HB166) on…
DES MOINES, Iowa (March 7, 2017) – On Monday, an Iowa Senate committee unanimously passed a bill that would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in many cases. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by…
BOISE, Idaho (March 7, 2017) – An Idaho bill that would eliminate state capital gains taxes on gold and silver specie, and encourage its use as currency, passed an important House committee last week. Final approval of the legislation would help undermine the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. House Majority Leader Mike Moyle introduced House…
AUSTIN, Texas (March 7, 2017) – A joint resolution introduced in the Texas House proposes a state constitutional amendment to guarantee the right to own, hold and use any mutually agreed upon medium of exchange. Passage of the bill would take another step toward undermining the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler)…