04/18/17  Garner Will Not  Proceed With  Mass Picketing Bill Following Governor's Veto

Senator Trent Garner says he won't try to override the governor's veto of his bill that would have criminalized mass picketing. Under the bill Garner introduced, penalties of up a year in jail and a fine of $2,500.00 would be assessed for interfering with people getting to work or blocking access to homes and public roadways while demonstrating.

Garner says he wants to discuss the bill with other lawmakers and personnel at the governor's office to come up with something that satisfies everyone. Governor Huthinson says the bill's goal of ensuring public safety is admirable but that the measure's vague language could affect constitutional rights to free speech and assembly.

The ACLU had urged the governor to veto the bill over concerns of constitutional violations.