BEwatch: A Legal Lynching Bill in Missouri, "Election Police" in Florida
BEwatch: A Legal Lynching Bill in Missouri, "Election Police" in Florida
Weekly updates on select state legislation you should pay attention to ... because it might end up where you live, too
Missouri - Senate Bill 666
Presumption of Reasonableness
Under current law, the defendant has the burden to prove he or she reasonably believed physical or deadly force was necessary to protect him or herself or a third person. This act provides that there shall be a presumption of reasonableness that the defendant believed such force was necessary to defend him or herself or a third person. This act provides that a person who uses or threatens to use force in self-defense is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless such force was used against a law enforcement officer who was acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the person reasonably knew or should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer.
Read about it (Washington Post) …
Florida - Senate Bill 524
Election Administration
Creating the Office of Election Crimes and Security within the Department of State; clarifying provisions governing the prohibition on the solicitation, acceptance, use, and disposal of private funds for certain election-related expenses; revising the frequency by which supervisors of elections must conduct a registration list maintenance program; authorizing the Department of State to identify deceased registered voters using information received by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; requiring specified individuals observing the ballot duplication process to sign a specified affidavit acknowledging certain criminal penalties; requiring the voter’s certificate for vote-by-mail ballots be printed on a separate envelope, instead of the return mailing envelope, etc.
Florida - House Bill 747
Protections of Medical Conscience
Provides that health care providers & health care payers have right to not participate in or pay for any health care services that violate their consciences; prohibits person from taking or threatening to take adverse action against such providers & payers for specified actions; provides for civil remedies & damages; provides immunity from civil, criminal, & administrative liability for such providers & payers under certain circumstances.
New Hampshire - House Bill 1377
Vaccination Mandates
An employee who is terminated, placed on leave, or given zero hours of billable time, for noncompliance with an employer-mandated vaccination requirement shall have the right to:
I. An additional 6 months of standard unemployment benefits under RSA 282-A:25 beyond the maximum duration or benefit amount, payable by the employer or the department of unemployment security.
II. An expedited court hearing which shall occur not more than 14 days after the filing of a claim under this subdivision.
III. Recover court costs and legal fees incurred in enforcing this subdivision.
Read about it (New Hampshire Bulletin) …
Washington - SB 5597
Washington Voting Rights Act
Codifies factors which establish a presumptive case of vote dilution in violation of the Washington Voting Rights Act (WVRA).•Establishes a mechanism for claimants who send successful notices of potential WVRA violations to recover costs of up to $50,000 from jurisdictions for research needed to send the notice.•Requires certain jurisdictions to obtain preclearance for changes to covered voting practices.•Establishes a data repository at the University of Washington to assist jurisdictions and researches in election best practices.