Farms, Food, and Freedom: Informed Consumerism in Utah
While regulation can protect the health of consumers not connected to their food, it is not needed—and should not be required—in direct-sales situations.
Overreaching EPA Water Rule: Utah Property Rights In Peril
Authored by Josh Daniels, Director of Policy The EPA has recently adopted a final rule to redefine the term “waters of the United States” in the Clean Water Act in a way that would expand the agency’s regulatory authority to many...
New EPA Rules Threaten Property Rights in Utah
School children across Utah were likely exposed this week to the virtues of environmental conservation and the heroics of “Captain Planet” in honor of Earth Day. We presume that few were introduced to the unintended consequences...
HB104: Property Rights for Raw Milk Drinkers
To track the status of this bill, find it on our Legislation Tracker.Click here to contact the sponsor of the bill to share your thoughts, or click here to email your Senator and Representative about it. Libertas Institute...
Lyft driver in Utah cited $6,500 for providing a service
Editor’s note: Lyft is one of two popular ride-sharing services (Uber being the other) that have faced significant opposition from traditional competitors such as taxi companies. Governments around the country have...
New Rules for Hemp Extract in Utah: HB105 Implementation
The Controlled Substance Advisory Committee in Utah recently discussed regulatory implementation of the bill allowing the use of hemp extract for persons with intractable epilepsy. Libertas Institute was in attendance to hear...
Crime and Punishment: Utah’s Voluminous Laws
It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood. —James Madison, Federalist 62...
Prohibitionist Policies and Black Markets
President Obama has recently decided to make it illegal to buy, sell, or trade ivory that is less than 100 years old. International trade of “blood ivory” has been illegal since 1989. According to unnamed conservationists,...
The Federal Government’s Micromanagement of School Discipline
Earlier this month the Departments of Education and Justice released an information package regarding school discipline. Its main thrust is that not one, but two federal departments are going to micromanage school discipline in a...
State Regulators Shut Down Utah Chicken Farm Despite No Complaints
Editor’s note: Libertas staff recently became aware of problems Christiansen Family Farms was having with regulation from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Recent puzzling enforcement actions by state regulators have...