Photo enforcement will be in the spotlight this week, as a House panel will consider major modifications to the program that is nabbing speeders on highways across the state.

The Transportation and Infrastructure committee will be hearing a trio of bills on March 5 – all sponsored by Chairman Andy Biggs – that could significantly scale back the scope of photo enforcement.

One bill, H2124, would limit the cameras to snapping photos of drivers going more than 20 mph more than the posted speed limit in a school zone. Another measure, H2168, would require the Department of Public Safety – which operates the photo enforcement system – and the Department of Transportation to conduct a study to determine whether specific camera installations are needed for public safety.

The third bill, H2170, would prevent the courts from including photo radar tickets in the reports on civil traffic violations they regularly provide to the Department of Transportation.

Biggs has been outspoken in his opposition to the photo enforcement system, which was created as part of the budget approved last summer. The first week of the legislative session, he joined two other GOP representatives in calling for the system to be scrapped entirely.

"This is serious and it smacks of authoritarianism," Biggs said at a Jan. 14 press conference.

On March 3, the Environment committee will vote on legislation that would require Arizona to drop out of a regional program aimed at curbing global warming. The Western Climate Initiative, which is operated by the Western Governors Association, is a coalition of several western states and Canadian provinces that is attempting to reduce greenhouse gases.

H2467 would forbid the Department of Environmental Quality from participating in the program. The state joined the Western Climate Initiative in 2007 at the behest of former Gov. Janet Napolitano.

On Wednesday, the Military Affairs and Public Safety committee will consider asking voters to repeal the tax on business personal property. Currently, the state collects taxes on all but $50,000 of a business' personal property.