Dome:
Law, Legislation & Policy

Housed at Boston University School of Law, Dome is a valuable resource for news, analysis, and opinion on legislation and public policy. Dome is staffed by students of BU Law’s various legislation clinics. Dome features work contributed by staff members, scholars, practitioners, and law students interested in legislation and public policy.

Massachusetts’ “Death By Dealer” Bill is the Wrong Opioid Policy

By Alexandra Arnold
July 11th, 2018 in Analysis, State Legislation.

On January 30, 2018, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on S. 2158, An Act Updating Laws Relating to Dangerous Drugs and Protecting Witnesses. Despite its relatively innocuous title, the bill, proposed by Governor Charlie Baker, represents a substantial scaling up of the War on Drugs in... More

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The End of Dams: Removal and River Restoration

By Rachel Watsky
July 10th, 2018 in Analysis, State Legislation.

America has a love-hate relationship with dams. As a nation, America has built “on average, one dam per day since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.” Individually, dams have existed in America since long before the states revolted against Great Britain. Massachusetts has the oldest dam listed in the... More

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Drive-By Legislation Will Not Solve Drive-By Lawsuits

By Nicholas Stone
July 10th, 2018 in Analysis, Federal Legislation, Legislation in Court, Legislative Oversight, Uncategorized.

If you ask disability rights activists about the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (the “Reform Act”), you may get a response that the Reform Act, which recently passed the House, is not nearly as benign or as amicable to the interests of persons with disabilities as its title... More

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Alix’s Law: Is the 7th Time the Charm?

By Meghan Hayes
July 10th, 2018 in Analysis, State Legislation.

On the night of July 8, 2011 18 year-old Alexandria “Alix” Rice died on the side of the road in a town just outside of Buffalo, New York. Alix was riding her longboard home from work around 11:20 pm when a drunk driver hit her and sent her flying 150... More

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Breaking Chain Migration: An Affront to the New Colossus?

By Caitlin Britos
July 10th, 2018 in Analysis, Federal Legislation.

In February 2018, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, the federal agency that grants green cards and U.S. citizenship, revised its mission statement by striking its characterization of the United States as a “nation of immigrants.” The phrase dates back to the 1800s and was popularized by President John... More

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