IJ’s primary mission will always be to defend the constitutional rights of all Americans in the courtroom, but the results we achieve in statehouses can be just as important. As you know, politicians are usually the lagging indicators of change. They eventually understand which way the wind is blowing and support reform. By using all the tools of public interest law, we raise the profile of and turn up the temperature on our issues to such a degree political figures can no longer ignore them. And this spring, IJ has secured a remarkable string of legislative victories to expand government accountability and economic opportunity.

In April, the governor of New Mexico signed into law the New Mexico Civil Rights Act <[link removed]>, a first-of-its-kind law to limit qualified immunity and give residents of the state a way to hold government agencies accountable for violating the Constitution. The act, based closely on IJ’s model legislation, provides a workaround to qualified immunity by allowing people to sue state and local agencies in state court when those agencies’ employees violate constitutional rights.

Deep down in Florida, IJ successfully urged passage of nine bills that will help Americans get back to work and climb the economic ladder. Among other things, the bills:


- Make it easier to start a home-based business <[link removed]>;
- Prevent local governments from creating additional licensing requirements for a long list of occupations;
- Modernize and standardize cottage food laws; and
- Allow barbers to cut hair outside of barbershops, such as at nursing homes and private residences.



Food freedom is surging across America, with IJ-crafted bills passing in seven state legislatures. This month, the Oklahoma legislature unanimously passed IJ’s food freedom bill <[link removed]> after our two-year advocacy campaign with farmers’ markets and cottage food producers. And just last week, Minnesota and Alabama passed or signed bills to dramatically expand home food businesses.

From civil forfeiture reform in Arizona to removing red tape for hair stylists in Arkansas and much more, IJ is pushing legislators across the nation to expand freedom and provide justice for all Americans—please consider fueling this work by making a tax-deductible donation online <[link removed]>.

Scott

Scott G. Bullock
President and General Counsel
Institute for Justice
Donate Today <[link removed]>

This email was sent to [email protected]. If you no longer wish to receive these emails you may unsubscribe here: [link removed].