During the past few years, Arizona has done more than any state to position itself for strong economic growth once the national economy recovers. In particular, the broad-based tax reforms and new economic development tools contained in last year’s competitiveness package laid a strong foundation on which to grow the state’s economy.

Sen. Nancy Barto’s relentless quest to redefine contractual law escalated to new levels in the Arizona Capitol Times article, “Bill advances targeting HOA authority over roadway restrictions.” In the March 2 article, she attempted to propose a nonsensical argument where she and her friend claim ownership of a vehicle owned by someone else. I can’t follow it. You read it and try to figure it out. In the meantime, let me give another, more real world example.

The Arizona Legislature is considering HB2789, which significantly increases government regulation by requiring every rule the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) makes that affects “public service corporations” (a.k.a. utilities) go before the full House, the Senate and the governor for approval prior to the rule taking effect. This bill will cause unnecessary delays in the rules [...]

Nothing is more devastating than losing a child.

It’s like a bad re-run. A few legislators are trying to revive Arizona’s film production tax credit (SB 1170) that lapsed in 2011.

Now that many coal plants in the West are nearing the end of their intended life, utilities and regulators are faced with a critical choice: Do we sink hundreds of millions into existing coal plants so they can meet health standards or do we invest those funds in the transition to cleaner, cost-effective electricity systems using the West’s abundant solar, wind, geothermal and energy efficiency resources?

Arizona suffers from a critical shortage of physicians that is compounded by the downturn in national and state economies and the subsequent loss of many jobs. Five years ago, the Legislature took steps to address these issues by supporting the expansion of the University of Arizona’s College of Medicine in downtown Phoenix.

I’m not an environmentalist and I don’t understand all of the environmental issues, but I do understand that we get 5 million people coming to the Grand Canyon every year. Tourism is not compatible with mining or with the mining trucks transporting uranium to be processed in Utah, and generally running the risk of despoiling this national treasure.

It’s hard to believe the Arizona Legislature is spending its time on a bill to limit indecent speech by teachers. Of course, nearly everyone would agree teachers should not be foul or crass. But nearly no teachers are.

Two bills last week took one more step down the path to bolstering our state’s reputation for enjoying a legal environment that is welcoming to business. One bill got the headlines, but they’re both an important component of Arizona’s ongoing civil justice reform efforts.