Today, there were hearings on two bills designed to push back against the growing surveillance state. Two more are up for hearings in the near future.
INDIANA
Indiana SB231, 4th Amendment Protection Act to ban all state assistance to NSA, is held up in committee with a 5-5 vote as of this writing. It needs to pass today to meet deadlines, and the sponsor tweeted that the chair has recessed his committee to discuss.
@TenthAmendment SB231 is stalled 5-5 Committee. Sen. Young has recessed his Committee to discuss.
— Mike Delph (@MikeDelph) January 28, 2014
We’ll post an update as soon as we get one.
KANSAS
Kansas HB2421 – to ban local data mining and the receipt of warrantless data from federal agencies – had a hearing as well today. No vote was yet taken. Law enforcement strongly opposed the efforts, claiming that the bill’s warrant requirements would get in the way of their work.
From The Republic:
Law enforcement officials oppose the bill because it says that in seeking a warrant, a local or state agency must have probable cause to believe the subject of the information they’re seeking may have committed a crime. Howe said often, such information is sought early in an investigation, well before authorities are ready to arrest someone.
In what might be shocking to some in the general public, a clue came up in the committee as to why law enforcement is opposed to basic warrant requirements – they’re scanning license plates and storing data on everyday people. Bill sponsor Brett Hildabrand tweeted about this discovery:
In HB 2421 hearing, #JoCo Sheriffs Dept admits scanning license plates/storing that data of law-abiding citizens. #ksleg #privacy
— Brett Hildabrand (@Brett4ks) January 28, 2014
HB2421 will need to be voted on in this committee before being moved to the full house for consideration. Take action to help this happen here: http://offnow.org/kansas
NEW HAMPSHIRE
On Thursday, a pair of bills will get a hearing and likely vote in the House Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. HB1533 prohibits searching information in a portable device without a warrant and designates a Class-A misdemeanor charge against any official purposely in violation. HB1619 affirms a reasonable expectation of privacy in information from sources including, “telephone; electric, water and other utility services; internet service providers; social media providers; banks and financial institutions; insurance companies; and credit card companies.”
Take action to support here: http://offnow.org/newhampshire
WASHINGTON
Inside sources tell us that HB2272 is getting considerable attention in the grassroots, but that it has significant hurdles to pass this week. In fact, House Judiciary Chair, Rep. Laurie Jinkins (District 27) has the power to allow the bill to move forward or die. HB2272 needs to be scheduled for a hearing no later than 02-05 and must pass the committee by majority vote no later than 02-07. Rep. Jinkins can be moved to act on the bill by phone calls from people in the state of Washington, primarily those in her 27th District (that’s most of northern Tacoma)
More details here: http://offnow.org/washington
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