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Recent Articles from Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
House Republicans take another crack at control of local elections; bill passes 34-22
Claiming it will increase turnout, the Republican-controlled House voted March 7 to set up a system that could force cities to move their local elections to even-numbered years.
Bill to allocate money for school supplies passes House
A measure to help teachers pay for classroom supplies cleared a critical hurdle Thursday as state lawmakers resurrected it from political death.
Arizona teachers not likely to mirror W. VA colleagues – yet
The head of the statewide teachers union said Wednesday a strike may be necessary to get salaries closer to where he believes they should be. But not this year.
House panel okays bill to toughen penalties for traffic accidents
State lawmakers are moving to close what appears to be a loophole that allows some people to escape with what amounts to a legal slap on the wrist even if they kill someone while driving.
‘Dreamers’ tuition case turns on conflicts over definitions
The question of how much it will cost "dreamers'' to get a higher education in Arizona could turn on who the state Supreme Court decides is in this country with "lawful immigration status.''
Brnovich argues state trumps feds in DACA driver’s license case
Attorney General Mark Brnovich lashed out at the Trump administration for asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reject Arizona's bid to deny driver's licenses to "dreamers.''
House panel gives blessing to ‘God enriches’ bill
Saying it just translates a Latin word already in the state motto, a House panel voted Monday to let schools literally put the word "God'' into classrooms -- as long as it's connected to the word "enriches.''
Muslim scholar sues ASU over 2016 state law on Israel support
Claiming censorship, attorneys allege Arizona State University is illegally blocking a Muslim academician from speaking on campus because of his political beliefs.
Judge hears arguments in AG suit against regents
Lawyers for the Board of Regents told a judge Friday that Attorney General Mark Brnovich has no legal right to challenge the tuition it sets for the state's three universities -- or even the policies used to come up with those numbers.
Digital products tax-free under proposal House passed
HB 2479 would spell out in statute that the state cannot impose its 5.6 percent sales tax on everything from digital books and videos to cloud-based software, online storage and web hosting services. The 39-19 vote sends the measure to the Senate.
Bill proposes English as language that governs insurance contracts
HB 2083 would spell out that the English language version of any policy governs any dispute between insurance companies and their customers, even if a version in another language prepared by the company says something else. It would, however, require that there be a disclosure on the non-English version that it has no binding effect, no matter the difference.
Senate passes harsher penalty for animal cruelty
State senators agreed Monday to boost the penalty for intentional abuse or killing of pets over objections from a lawmaker who said it could make criminals out of ranchers protecting their herds.
