Here are a few items of interest from around the country.

 Concord, N. H.: House Bill 171, sponsored by Rep. Sherman Packard (R-Londonderry), would prohibit the New Hampshire Liquor Commission from imposing restrictions on on-premises licenses relating to clothing or appearance of patrons or employees. The bill passed a Jan. 4 floor vote in the House and now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Washington, D.C.: A Senate committee has approved two amendments to a traffic safety bill that would continue a ban on a U.S. traffic safety agency lobbying state and local officials. On Dec. 14, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee approved S. 1449—the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Improvement Act of 2011—including two amendments offered by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.). The DeMint amendments deleted language in the bill that would have allowed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to lobby state and local officials.

The committee didn't take up a proposed amendment that was to be offered by Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) that would have drastically altered the existing motorcyclist safety grant program by indirectly pressuring states to pass mandatory helmet laws.

Source and full story: www.americanmotorcyclist.com/News/11-12-14/U_S_Senate_panel_backs_b...

Colombia, S.C.: Senate Bill 1046, sponsored by Sen. Ralph Anderson (D-Greenville), would require all two-wheeled motorized vehicle operators and passengers to wear protective helmets of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety. Currently, motorcycle operators and passengers 21 and older are permitted to make their own decision regarding helmet use.

Sacramento, Calif.: Assembly Bill 1047, sponsored by Asm. Kevin Jeffries (R-Lake Elsinore) has been amended to expressly prohibit a local law enforcement agency receiving grant money for a motorcyclist safety program from using that money for the implementation of motorcycle only checkpoints. California would be the second state after New Hampshire to prohibit by law the use of grant monies for this purpose.