Legislation

Among the measures aimed at restricting reproductive freedom is a bill requiring an ultrasound be conducted on any woman before she could obtain an abortion.

The state’s medical marijuana program suffered a huge setback when, in June, the House and Senate passed Attorney General legislation promoting discrimination and harassment of marijuana cardholders without cause.

Perennial bills eliminating the posting of legal notices in newspapers have returned. Public bodies argue that being posting notices online versus in the newspaper would present cost savings.

In March and April, the ACLU testified before the Senate and House Judiciary committees, respectively, that the legislation’s overly broad definition of “indecent materials” would encompass award-willing films containing full frontal nudity, art pieces, and even sex education texts.

The General Assembly is also considered a variety of legislation aimed at firearms possession and use, including a number of bills imposing mandatory sentences.

The House approved recurring legislation imposing additional penalties – up to an extra ten years – on individuals who participate in crimes if they are deemed to do so as part of a vaguely defined “criminal street gang".

The ACLU opposed to the voter ID law remain concerned with the severe disenfranchisement the new photo ID requirement will impose on the poor, the elderly, racial minorities and other vulnerable groups that are least likely to have identification or the documents necessary to obtain ID.

Legislation was considered to overhaul the state’s prohibition on cyberstalking and cyberharassment. However, under this new legislation, one act online that is used by others to justify harassment would be criminal, whether or not the individual was aware of harassment that subsequently took place.

In June, the House and Senate approved disturbing legislation allowing for the collection of DNA from people arrested – but not yet put on trial – for a number of offenses.