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Utah ‘ag-gag’ law ends harassment of farmers by animal-rights groups

Bill: HB187 (PDF)

Sponsored by Rep. John Mathis, and signed into law in 2012 by Gov. Gary Herbert, HB187 (Act No. 213) declares that a person is guilty of agricultural operation interference if the person records an image of, or sound from, an agricultural operation under certain circumstances; obtains access to an agricultural operation under false pretenses; or obtains employment at an agricultural operation with the intent to record an image of, or sound from, the agricultural operation. Violators of the law are guilty of a class A misdemeanor and face up to one year in prison.

Also: “Gov OKs ‘ag gag’ bill criminalizing secret video of agricultural operations”

“Utah lawmakers follow Iowa, pass ‘ag-gag’ law”

“Bill targets animal rights activists’ videos, photos on farms”

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Oklahoma bans confiscation of guns during state emergencies

Bill: SB1760 (PDF)

Sponsored by Rep. Shannon and Sen. Sykes, and signed into law in 2012 by Gov. Mary Fallin, SB1760 (the “Oklahoma Riot Control and Prevention Act”) states that “neither the Governor nor any official of a municipal or state entity shall prohibit or suspend the sale, ownership, possession, transportation, carrying, transfer and storage of firearms, ammunition and ammunition accessories during a declared state of emergency, that are otherwise legal under state law.”

Also: “Gov. Fallin signs bill to prevent firearm confiscation”

“Fallin signs bill to prevent firearm confiscation”

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Florida law protects student-led public prayers, benedictions

Bill: SB98/HB317 (PDF)

Sponsored by Rep. Van Zant and Sen. Siplin, and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott, SB98/HB317 (Chapter No. 2012-9) states that a district school board may adopt a policy allowing an inspirational message to be delivered by students at a student assembly. The policy must provide that students who are responsible for organizing any student-led portion of a student assembly shall (1) have sole discretion in determining whether an inspirational message is to be delivered, and (2) choose the student volunteers who will deliver an inspirational message. The student volunteers shall be solely responsible for the preparation and content of the inspirational message.

Also: “Gov. Rick Scott signs school inspirational prayer bill”

“Florida Senate approves school prayer bill”

“Florida School Prayer Bill to Become Law”

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Michigan abortion clinics required to meet state hospital safety standards or shut down

Bill: HB5711 (PDF)

Sponsored by Rep. Bruce Rendon and signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder, HB5711 (Public Act No. 499 – 2012) requires abortion clinics to follow the health and safety standards common to hospitals and other outpatient surgical centers. Abortion facilities that perform more than 120 abortions annually must be licensed as freestanding outpatient surgical centers and are subject to rigorous building standards set for such centers. HB5711 also bans coerced abortions. House Bill 5711 is an omnibus bill that places six pro-life bills into one bill.

Also: “Michigan Governor Signs Major Pro-Life Bill Stopping Abortions”

“Michigan H.B. 5711 regulates abortion industry”

“Gov. Snyder signs bill that requires abortion clinics to meet hospital-style safety standards”

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Mississippi to be abortion-free state after law requires abortion doctors to have hospital admitting privileges

Bill: HB1390 (PDF)

Sponsored by Rep. Sam Mims and signed into law by Gov. Phil Bryant, HB1390 mandates that all physicians performing in abortion clinics must have admitting privileges at a local hospital. In particular, HB1390 states, “Abortions shall only be performed by physicians licensed to practice in the State of Mississippi. All physicians associated with the abortion facility must have admitting privileges at a local hospital and staff privileges to replace local hospital on-staff physicians. All physicians associated with an abortion facility must be board certified or eligible in obstetrics and gynecology, and a staff member trained in CPR shall always be present at the abortion facility when it is open.”

Also: “Mississippi’s last abortion clinic to close after passage of new law requiring hospital privileges for abortion doctors”

“Gov. Bryant speaks on newly signed anti-abortion law”

“Mississippi to become first state without an abortion clinic?”

“Last abortion clinic in Mississippi expected to close after state enacts new law”

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Louisiana Right to Bear Arms Amendment ensures strongest gun rights protection law in nation

Bill: SB303 (Act No. 874) (PDF)

Sponsored by Senator Neil Riser, and voted into law by Louisiana voters Nov 6, 2012, SB303 (Right to Bear Arms, Amendment 2) calls for a statewide vote on a state constitutional amendment to require that any denial, infringement, or restriction on one’s right to acquire, keep, possess, transport, carry, transfer, and use arms for defense of life and property be subject to a strict scrutiny standard by courts in determining any violation of the right. SB303 provides that “the right of citizens to acquire, keep and bear possess, transport, carry, transfer, and use arms for defense of life and liberty, and for all other legitimate purposes is fundamental.”

Also: “Louisiana Right to Bear Arms, Amendment 2 (2012)”

“Louisiana passes Right to Bear Arms Amendment 2 with overwhelming support”

“YES on Amendment 2 ‘builds iron wall around your Second Amendment freedoms,’ protects them from activist anti-gun judges”

“Gun rights constitutional amendment clears Senate, headed for November ballot”

“Right to bear arms is taken seriously in the Senate”

“SB303 would wipe away gun restrictions in state of Louisiana”

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Michigan voters must affirm U.S. citizenship to receive ballots

Bill: SB0810 (Public Act No. 523) (PDF)

Sponsored by Sen. Hansen, and signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2012, SB0810 (Public Act No. 523) requires Michigan voters to sign a ballot application affirming U.S. citizenship before receiving a ballot.

Also: “Citizenship statement on ballot application included in bill approved by Gov. Rick Snyder”

“Gov. Snyder signs voter citizenship bill: No check box, but signature required”

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Michigan becomes nation’s 24th right-to-work state

Bill: HB4003 (PDF); SB0116 (PDF)

Sponsored by dozens of lawmakers, and signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder in 2012, HB4003/SB0116 (Public Acts 349 and 348) make the state of Michigan a “right to work” state, meaning that no public sector worker can be compelled to join a union as a condition of employment. Among other things, all public workers are free to engage in or refrain from union activities, and no person shall by force, intimidation, or unlawful threats attempt to compel any public employee to become or remain a member of a labor organization or pay union dues. An individual shall not be required as a condition of obtaining or continuing public employment to become or remain a member of a labor organization or bargaining representative; pay any dues, fees, assessments, or other charges or expenses of any kind or amount, or provide anything of value to a labor organization or bargaining representative; or even pay to any charitable organization or third party any amount that is in lieu of, equivalent to, or any portion of dues, fees, assessments, or other charges.

Also: “Gov. Snyder signs right-to-work bills into law”

“Gov. Snyder signs Right to Work legislation”

“Right-to-Work Bills Pass Michigan House, Senate”

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Virginia ends eminent domain abuse, restores property rights

Bill: SJ3 (PDF)

Championed by Atty. Gen. Ken Cuccinelli II, and passed into law by the Nov. 6, 2012 ballot as the “The Virginia Eminent Domain Amendment,” SJ3 (and companion bill HJ3) overturns the 2005 Kelo v. City of New London U.S. Supreme Court decision by providing that private property can be taken or damaged only for a public use, only with just compensation to the owner, and only so much taken as is necessary for the public use. Just compensation must equal or exceed the value of the property taken, lost profits and lost access, and damages to the residue caused by the taking.

Cuccinelli statement: “[Virginians are] enshrining in the Constitution of Virginia the protections they deserve from overzealous governments and the developers who use them to take away Virginians’ homes, farms, and small businesses. I have fought every year since the 2005 Kelo decision [by the Supreme Court] to strengthen property rights in the commonwealth…A property rights amendment to Virginia’s constitution is the ultimate protection Virginians need, and voters will finally have a property rights amendment….”

Also: “Virginia Eminent Domain Amendment, Question 1 (2012)”

“Virginia Passes State Constitutional Limits On Eminent Domain”

“The restriction on the government’s right to seize property is a good step to protect people’s individual rights”

“McDonnell signs off on property rights referendum”

“Property rights amendment to Va. Constitution heading for ballot”

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Alabama bans Agenda 21 sustainable green policies

Bill: SB477 (text)

Sponsored by Sen. Gerald Dial, and signed into law by Gov. Robert Bentley, SB477 prohibits the state and all its political subdivisions from enacting environmental and/or developmental policies that infringe on private property rights, “as may be required by policy recommendations originating in, or traceable to ‘Agenda 21,’ adopted by the United Nations in 1992 at its Conference on Environment and Development or any other international law, or ancillary plan of action that contravenes the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of the State of Alabama.” Furthermore, the state and its subdivisions may not may not enter into any agreement, expend any sum of money, or receive funds contracting services, or giving financial aid to or from those non-governmental and inter-governmental organizations as defined in Agenda 21.

Also: “Alabama Adopts First Official State Ban on UN Agenda 21”

“Agenda 21: Sustainability?”

Reason TV Video: Radical Environmentalists Are Anti-development, Anti-people

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Missouri passes public prayer constitutional amendment

Bill: HJR2 (PDF)

Sponsored by Rep. Mike McGhee, and approved by voters on August 7, 2012, HJR2 (The Missouri Public Prayer Amendment) amends the state constitution to guarantee a citizen’s right to pray and worship on public property. The amendment states that the right of Missouri citizens to express their religious beliefs shall not be infringed, and that school children have the right to pray and acknowledge God voluntarily in their schools.

Also: “Missouri Public Prayer Amendment (August 2012)”

“Missouri voters OK ‘Right to Pray’ amendment by 5-1 margin”

“Amendment 2 secures right to pray in schools and government settings”

“Right-to-pray amendment slated for August 2012 ballot”

“ACLU Sues Missouri County Over Prayers at Meetings”

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North Dakota gets constitutional ‘right to modern farming and ranching’

Bill: Right to Farm Initiative (Initiated Constitutional Measure No. 3) (PDF)

A citizen-initiated constitutional amendment passed into law by voters on November 6, 2012, the North Dakota Farming and Ranching Amendment states: “The right of farmers and ranchers to engage in modern farming and ranching practices shall be forever guaranteed in this state. No law shall be enacted which abridges the right of farmers and ranchers to employ agricultural technology, modern livestock production and ranching practices.” If passed into law, the constitutional amendment would preserve modern agricultural methods and technologies and prevent harmful anti-farming restrictions pushed by special interest groups such as The Humane Society or People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Also: “North Dakota Farming and Ranching Amendment (2012)”

“N. Dakota voters approve groundbreaking farming rights amendment”

“ND amendment would protect farming and agriculture, advocate says”

“Voters may decide on measure guaranteeing farmers’ and ranchers’ right to farm using modern methods.”

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Oklahoma voters end affirmative action programs in state

Bill: State Question 759 (SJR15) (SJR15 text)

A legislatively-referred ballot measure sponsored by Sen. Rob Johnson and Rep. Leslie Osborn, and passed into law by voters on November 6, 2012, State Question 759 (The Oklahoma Affirmative Action Ban Amendment) prohibits affirmative action programs in government employment, education, and contracting that give preferred treatment based on race, color, gender, ethnicity, or national origin. The amendment appeared on the Nov. 6, 2012 ballot in the state of Oklahoma.

Also: “Oklahoma Affirmative Action Ban Amendment, State Question 759 (2012)”

“Oklahomans vote to end affirmative action programs in state”

“Oklahoma’s GOP Lawmakers Push to Abolish Affirmative Action”

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Alabama bans union ‘card check’ elections, mandates secret ballot voting

Bill: HB 64 (Amendment 7 – 2012) (PDF)

Sponsored by Rep. Kurt Wallace and voted into law by Alabama voters on November 6, 2012, The Alabama Secret Ballot Amendment (Amendment 7) amends the state constitution to guarantee individuals the right to vote by secret ballot in matters of employee representation, elections for public office, and referenda. Amendment 7 would prohibit unions from organizing via “card check,” where they get more than half of the employees at a company to check a box on a card saying they want a union to represent them. The only method available for union organization would be a secret ballot. The amendment effectively blocks a push by left-wing groups and unions to make voter choices public, opening the door to pressure and harassment.

Also: “Alabama Secret Ballot Amendment, Amendment 7 (2012)”

“Alabama voters to decide union organizing issue”